Summer/Fall 2010 - University of the Cumberlands

Summer/Fall 2010 

AN ALUMNI MAGAZINE 

Cumberlands’ 

Michelangelo 

2010 Campus Commencement News • Alumni Karl Rove in Event Technology • The Renaissance Homecoming Man of Paint 2009 Creek

2009-2010 Alumni Association 

Board of Directors 

President 

David Rhodes, ’80 

President-Elect 

Richard Prewitt, ’76 

Past President 

Bill Lyttle, ’75 

Secretary 

Terry Dixon, Ed.D., ’68 

Executive Director 

Dave Bergman, ’89 

Board Member Emeritus 

Mary Doyle Johnson, ’48 

Term Expiring 2010 

Susan Rice Bradley, ’98 

Jimmy Huddleston, ’87 

Patti Mullins, ’91 

V.L. Stonecipher, ’66 

Amy Mulfinger Huss, ‘88 (filling vacancy) 

Term Expiring 2011 

Jeffrey W. Davis, ’80 

Maureen “Cookie” Henson, ’74 

John P. Hollingsworth, Ph.D., ’63 

Mike Parsley, ’89 

Allen Robbins, ’90 

Term Expiring 2012 

Jonathan Childers, ’00 

Wheeler Conover, Ph.D., ’87 

Melanie Mackey Evans, ’90 

Shannon Evans Harrington, ’00 

Ex-officio Members 

James H. Taylor, Ph.D., ’68, President 

Sue Wake, ’70, V.P. for Institutional Advancement 

Daphne Baird, Director of Media Relations 

Paul Steely, ’49, Trustee Liaison 

Jacob Moak, ’11, SGA President 

Cumberland Today is published by the Office of Media 

Relations. Mail contributions, letters and address 

changes to University of the Cumberlands, Alumni 

Services, 7075 College Station Dr., Williamsburg, KY 

40769, or emailed to alumni@ucumberlands.edu. 

Graphic Designer 

Meghann Holmes 

Contributors 

Daphne Baird 


Elaine Croley 

Robbie Floyd, ’11 

Laura Silvers, ’11 

University Photographers 

Daphne Baird 


Meghann Holmes 

Robbie Floyd, ’11 

Jeff Meadors, ’96 

Sports Information 

Printed by 

Welch Printing Company 

Defining Alumni 

Cumberland Alumni, 

For a moment, I would like to examine, the word 

“alumni”. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word 

“alumnus” as, a person who has gone to or is a graduate 

of a particular school or college. A definition perhaps, 

but there’s much more . . . 

Defining Alumni can have a different connotation 

altogether. In fact, there are several alumni I have met 

since my arrival on campus in the fall of 1984 that go 

beyond Webster’s definition. Defining Alumni are best 

known by their contagious school spirit, by their regular attendance at Homecoming, 

by their involvement at alumni events, by their support of ongoing campus programs, 

and by their contributions to scholarships, academic programs and ongoing building 

campaigns. Defining Alumni are willing to recommend a student to their alma mater. 

They are willing to bring a prospective student to campus. Yes, they are even willing 

to attend a home or away athletic event. They do all of this because they know that 

their alma mater needs some alumni spirit, alumni encouragement and alumni support. 

Several of the Defining Alumni I know are on the following pages of this alumni 

magazine. Why, because Defining Alumni are broadly cooperative whereas others are 

narrowly competitive. 

Alumni hold special memories from time spent on campus. Memories vary from 

decade to decade, however, the theme of alumni memories remains the same. We 

lived in the dorms together, ate together, cheered together, attended classes together, 

studied together, traveled around town together, shopped in local stores together, 

walked across campus together, participated in clubs together, competed in athletics 

together and on and on it goes. Togetherness is the single most defining component of 

a family. Togetherness enriches the spirit of any family and it is no different on a college 

or university campus. University of the Cumberlands is a family made up of alumni, 

students, faculty, staff, parents, family members, community members and supporters. 

Collectively, we are bonded by a common purpose or theme, the spirit of Cumberland. 

Are you a Defining Alumnus waiting to be discovered by University of the Cumberlands? 

What is your story? Simply take a few minutes right now and share your treasured 

Cumberland memories with us and we will gladly include them in the next edition of 

Cumberland Today. We’re always looking for more stories to share with alumni and we 

will also be looking for you at Homecoming this October, where old memories can be 

shared and new memories can be made all on the same weekend each year. 

Become a Defining Alumnus today by joining us for Homecoming – Alumni & Student 

Weekend on October 1-3, 2010, and help us lift up the spirit of University of the 

Cumberlands. Together we can impact the lives of current students (our future alumni) 

simply by sharing our alumni spirit at Homecoming. I hope to see you on campus in 

October! 

Sincerely, 


Alumni Director 

Cumberland Today is your publication. 

Please contact us with comments 

or suggestions at 

alumni@ucumberlands.edu 

or 606-539-4355.

CONTENTS 

COVER STORY 

Cumberland’s 

Michelangelo 

12-14 

Cover photo courtesy of 

pgs. 16-19 

2-3 

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees 

3-7 

Campus News 

7 

Correll Health and Wellness Center 

pg. 7 

8-9 

16-19 

The Future and You 

2010 Commencement 

20-21 

Tribute Gifts 

23 

Rove Event 

24-25 

The Renaissance Man of Paint Creek 

pgs. 24-25 

26-35 

Alumni News 

Summer 2010 

CumberlandToday 

1

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies 

February 27, 2010 

During half-time of the last 

men’s basketball game of the season, 

University of the Cumberlands 

proudly inducted three new members 

into the Alumni Athletic Hall of 

Fame (AHF), representing football, 

baseball and track and cross country. 

Mark Barrett, a member 

of Cumberlands’ first, and only, 

undefeated football team (1988), who 

played for Cumberland from 1988- 

1991, still holds school records for 

most tackles in a game (26), season 

and career (381). The Frankfort native and graduate of Western 

Hills High School played in all 40 games of his Cumberland career, 

with a team record of 28-11-1. He received NAIA All American 

and All Mid South Conference honors each of his four collegiate 

seasons at Cumberland. 

“Mark put the fear in us that winning was the only 

option,” said a former teammate. “Put simply, he made everyone 

better, stronger, faster, and tougher.” 

In 2007, Barrett completed his Bachelor of Science 

degree in physical education with a minor in sports management 

from Kentucky State University. He resides in Frankfort with wife, 

Michele, and daughters, Kennedy and Addison, where he has been 

a director in Franklin County Government since 1998. Since 1997, 

he has been assistant head football coach at his alma mater, Western 

Hills High School. 

As a freshman, Wayne Seivers, ’79, a native of Clinton, 

Tenn., hit a homerun in his first at bat during a road trip to 

Pikeville College. He was outstanding as both pitcher and hitter. 

In double header games, he served as the 

designated hitter (DH) for the pitcher in 

one game, and then as both pitcher and 

batter in the second game. In his debut 

season in 1975, Seivers received the team 

award for the lowest ERA –1.20 on a 

record of 9-1, which, three decades later, 

is still the second best all-time record at 

Cumberlands. 

“Wayne is probably the best two-way 

player that our college has had in its baseball history.” said Coach 

Terry Stigall. “He was definitely an NCAA Division I prospect.” 

Seivers holds a career batting average of .373, and with 28 home 

runs, he is tied for 5th best at Cumberlands. As a pitcher, Seivers 

had a career record of 12-3. He was selected for All Conference 

KIAC Honors in 1975-77. 

Seivers has worked as a chemist, compounder, lab 

manager, project coordinator, quality control engineer, statistical 

quality control engineer and statistical consultant. He has been a 

2 CumberlandToday Summer 2010 

All the AHF inductees were escorted by their coaches. From left to right: 

Gareth Wilford, Coach Floyd Stroud, head coach of men’s and women’s track 

and cross country, for 18 years; Wayne Seivers; Coach Terry Stigall, head 

baseball coach from 1983 to 2001 and a member of the Athletic Hall of 

Fame; Mark Barrett; and Coach Tom Dowling, 

head football coach from 1985-1995. 

high school and college umpire and 

currently, he serves as East Tennessee 

umpire in charge for the Independent 

Softball Association. 

He and his wife, Libbye, 

have been married 11 years and 

have one daughter, Megan, and four 

grandchildren: Payton, Paige, Grace, 

and Hope. 

When Gareth Wilford, 

’00, arrived on campus in 1994, 

from Cape Town, Republic of South 

Africa, his presence on the cross 

country team was immediately felt as 

the team won the KIAC Conference 

and the regionals and qualified for 

the national championships all four 

years that he competed. His team also 

won the National Christian Colleges 

championships. Wilford was a 14-time All-American in both cross 

country and track and still holds the school record in the mile at 

4:01.69. 

As a freshman, Wilford finished 1st at the Regional 

Cross Country Championships, 2nd at the National Christian 

College Championships and 9th at the National Cross Country 

Championships. As a sophomore, in the Indoor Track Mile, he 

finished 5th and followed that with a 2nd place finish in the 

1000m. At the NCCAA Outdoor Track Championship he finished 

2nd in the 1500M and 3rd in the 800m. At the NAIA National 

Championships he finished 2nd. In Cross Country NCCAA he 

finished 1st and at the NAIA National Championships he was 5th. 

In 1999, with a time of 4.01.69, at the indoor mile, Wilford was 

ranked in the top 50 in the world by Track and Field News. The 

same year, his distance medley relay team placed 5th in the Penn 

Relays, for a top ten ranking in the world. Later, at the Outdoor 

Championships he placed 5th in the 1500m. 

Wilford is general manager of The Running Company in 

Indianapolis, Indiana. He and his wife, Laura Walker Wilford, ’00, 

who lettered in volleyball and track and field, have two daughters, 

Aislinn and Charlotte who was born April 22, 2010. 

September 18, 2010 

Just prior to the home football game with Georgetown, 

at approximately 1:15 p.m., two additional members who were 

unable to attend the ceremony in February will be inducted into 

Cumberlands’ AHF. 

Anthony Kabara, ’04, track and field, broke eight school 

Several of Gareth Wilford’s 

teammates attended the 

induction ceremony and 

the reception that followed. 

From left to right: Adam 

Schaffner, ’97, Gerry 

Emerson, ’97, Wilford, 

Derrick Ingersol, ’97, Floyd 

Stroud, ’74, Jason Liddle, ’96

ecords, earned 11 NAIA Championships, and was awarded 18 

NAIA All-American awards. In 2000 and 2002, he was named the 

NAIA Indoor Outstanding Performer. 

Michael Irving,’02, wrestling, was a four-time NAIA All-American at 

Cumberlands and the winner of the 2000 National Championship 

in the Heavyweight Division. 

February 19, 2011 

During halftime of the men’s basketball game with Shawnee 

State University, the 2011 induction ceremony will honor five new 

members of the AHOF. 

Jason Ellis, ’03, baseball, set all-time UC career marks in 

offense, with a .389 batting average, 246 hits, 60 doubles, 34 home 

runs, 183 RBIs, and 186 games played, feats he managed while a 

team leader behind the plate as catcher. Ellis was drafted by and 

played for the Cincinnati Reds. 

Harold Hubbard, Honorary Alumnus ’08, outstanding 

service, is currently in his 47th year of teaching at University of the 

Cumberlands. Since 1974, Hubbard has served on and worked with 

the NAIA, KIAC, MSC, Region XI and AII Eligibility committees. 

His eligibility service is the longest ever at the national level. 

Libor Janek, ’01, swimming, a native of Vyskov, Czech 

Republic, is the most outstanding swimmer in program history, 

claiming nine (9) NAIA National Championships. 

Dr. Fred Sagester, ’69, track & field, was the second 

leading scorer in track & field history at Cumberland at the 

completion of his eligibility. He also held eight school records 

(individual & team), some of which remain today. Sagester is 

currently the associate co-director of Cumberlands’ Education 

Department. 

Kelley Tragesser Wood, ’02, soccer, second in goals, 

first in assists and first in points in program history, helped 

lead her teams to three Mid South Conference titles and 

to achieve a 4-year record of 57-24-3. An achiever in the 

classroom as well as on the field, Kelley was also named to the 

Academic All-Conference team. 

Established in 1996 by the Alumni Board of Directors, the Athletic Hall of Fame 

has inducted 65 former athletes, coaches and contributing supporters, as well as three athletic 

teams. Each year, approximately 600 Cumberlands student-athletes dedicate countless hours toward 

practice, training and competition, all while maintaining their grades as they are, above all, 

students. The Hall of Fame is one way that Cumberlands recognizes the individuals who have given 

tirelessly to the athletic program and to the university. 

If you know someone worthy of nomination to the Athletic Hall of Fame, simply 

visit the website www.ucumberlands.edu/athletics/halloffame/, where you will find a downloadable 

nomination form. Please complete it and attach any supportive documentation, then mail it to the 

address listed on the form. Thank you for your support of the AHF program. 

CAMPUS NEWS 

Dr. Taylor named “Difference Maker” 

U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers came to campus on 

August 11, to present a “Difference Maker Award” to President 

Jim Taylor. During a brief presentation ceremony in the Hal 

Rogers Lecture Hall of the Hutton School of Business on campus, 

Rogers praised Taylor for his work on the transformation of “a 

sleepy little college in Southeast Kentucky into this dynamic 

university that we see today.” 

“I’m here to pay tribute to one of my mentors—one of 

my chief mentors, said Rogers of Taylor. “He’s an educator; he’s 

an entrepreneur; he’s a public servant; he’s a leader, and certainly, 

he is a difference maker.” 

He also honored the vision of Taylor and the 

administration for proposing the “Rogers Explorers” program 

and hosting the program since its inception in 2006. Rogers 

Explorers is an intensive three day, two night program focusing 

on developing skills in leadership, technology, entrepreneurship, 

and community service. Selected students attend during the 

summer before their ninth-grade year at one of three campuses in 

Kentucky: Cumberlands, EKU or Lindsey Wilson. 

Dr. Jim Taylor, president 

of University of the 

Cumberlands, left, 

receives a “Difference 

Maker Award” from U.S. 

Congressman Hal Rogers 

on August 11. 

Cumberlands enters GAP agreement for students 

to attend Midway College School of Pharmacy 

Cumberlands has entered a four-year guaranteed 

acceptance program (GAP) articulation agreement that will 

guarantee the admission of five Cumberlands pre-pharmacy 

graduates into the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program of 

the new Midway College School of Pharmacy in Paintsville. 

The agreement can be extended beyond the first four years, 

and although only five slots are guaranteed, all Cumberlands 

students are welcome to apply, and other students may be 

admitted. 

“As Cumberlands has always sought ways to meet the 

educational and professional needs of the Appalachian region, 

we are honored to participate in this GAP agreement with 

another fine institution like Midway,” said Dr. Jim Taylor. “We 

know that the success of our graduates will justify the faith 

that Midway has shown in them through this agreement.” 

Cumberlands will offer its pre-pharmacy majors 

all the required courses, as well as certain electives necessary 

for students to complete Midway’s PharmD admission 

requirements. 

“We strongly believe that this collaboration will be 

mutually beneficial for our students, our institutions and the 

region as we set forth to prepare students for rural pharmacy 

practice,” said Dr. William B. Drake, Jr., president of Midway 

College. 

Expecting its inaugural class in the fall of 2011, 

Midway is currently moving through the accreditation process 

with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education 

(ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 

(SACS). 



3

CAMPUS NEWS 

Dr. C. Martin Brooks, former associate professor of psychology, emeritus, and former chair of the 

department, offered the blessing of the food at the 2010 Faculty-Staff Dinner. Dr. Brooks, who 

served at Cumberlands from 1978-95, was accompanied by his wife, Annabeth, instructor of 

psychology, emeritus (1991-95). 

Cumberlands honors faculty and staff 

At the 18th annual Faculty-Staff Dinner on April 22, Cumberlands honored 

24 individuals who had reached milestone years of service and presented the 2010 

Service Award, William T. Miles Community Service 

Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award. 

Wanda Hensley, ’86, administrative assistant in the 

offices of International Relations and Church Relations 

is the recipient of the 2010 Service Award, which is 

given annually to a full-time staff member who shows 

an understanding of the philosophy and 

mission of the university through interaction 

with students, other staff and faculty 

members, university visitors, and the larger 

world beyond the campus. Beyond her official position on campus, she often entertains 

students who participate in Mountain Outreach and international students at her home. 

The wife of Marc Hensley, director of Mountain Outreach, she serves as a chaperone for the 

group’s annual Gatlinburg retreat, participates in their team bonding events 

and serves as a volunteer during the group’s two annual Christmas gift days. An active member of Main 

Street Baptist Church, Hensley cooks breakfast at the church for 30 to 40 students each Sunday and sings 

in the choir. 

Dr. James Manning,’81, professor of physics since 1987, received the William T. Miles Memorial 

Award for Community Service, which goes to a faculty member who has made a significant contribution 

to the local community in keeping with university goals. The individual must be a Christ-like servant who: 

lives the mission of Cumberlands; achieves a bold service focused on physical and spiritual health; 

provides humble service; and models service to others. As a member and officer of the Lion’s Club, 

he helps to prepare Christmas food baskets; conducts fundraising auctions to provide eye care and 

glasses for those in need; and helps prepare food-filled backpacks for school children to enjoy on 

weekends. A member and deacon of Central Baptist Church in Corbin, he oversees the church 

library and assists with sound and video during services. Manning, 

a previous winner of Cumberlands’ Excellence in Teaching Award, 

shares his passion for physics as he conducts demonstrations at local schools, and on campus, he 

sponsors the Society of Physics Students and both the physics and mathematics honor societies. 

Dr. Sarah Ash, ’93, biology professor and former departmental chair, was honored with 

the Excellence in Teaching (EIT) Award. Ash, who was also honored for ten years of service at the 

dinner, received the EIT Award because of her zeal for learning, her thorough knowledge of her 

subject matter and her deep concern for the academic progress of each student. A challenging and 

creative professor, her classroom extends beyond the walls of the science building, as she 

has led students not only on hikes to explore the local, natural environment and directed 

re-forestation projects on reclaimed surface mines but she has also led groups as far away 

as Belize in Central America. All the while, she has worked to create within her students 

a burning desire to learn. Ash’s hard work, her caring, and her encouragement have led 

several students to seek careers in field biology and conservation biology. As one colleague 

remarked, “The success of many students is the fruit of her commitment to teaching.” 

4 CumberlandToday Summer 2010

CAMPUS NEWS 

Milestone years of service 

• 35 years 

o Jana Bailey, ’75, vice president of finance 

o Dr. Michael Colegrove, ’71, vice president of student services 

• 30 years 

o Jane Carter, ’75, Associate Professor, Business Administration 

• 25 years 

o Sharon Douglas, Development 

o Dr. Cindi Norton, health, exercise and sports science (HESS) 

o Norma Patrick, education 

o Pearl Wingeier, ’86, resident hall. 

• 20 years: 

o David Bergman, ’89, alumni services 

o Peggy Blackmore-Haus, athletic training, HESS; 

o Dr. David Etter, music 

o Dr. Gina Herring, English 

HOMECOMING 2010 

o Dr. John Hymo, mathematics; 

o Dr. Keith Semmel, communication/theatre arts 

o David Threlkeld, music 

o Dr. Todd Yetter, biology 

• 15 years 

o Geraldine Allen, ’78, ’92, art 

o Kay Silcox, ’71, Cumberland Inn 

• 10 years 

o Dr. Sara Ash, ’93, biology 

o G. Maurice “Moe” Conn, theatre arts 

o Gloria Fritts, student services 

o Dr. Joan Hembree, biology 

o Linda McGarvey, library 

o Dr. Vernon McGlone, business administration 

o Janet Moses, development 

“Tower of Strength” to address alumni at Homecoming 2010 

The speaker for the 2010 Alumni Dinner will be Dr. Betty L. Siegel, ’50, president emeritus 

of Kennesaw State University and endowed chair of the Siegel Institute for Leadership, 

“Ethics & Character.” 

In October 2009, Dr. Siegel received the Tower of Strength Award from Morris Brown 

College for her distinguished achievements in education, leadership and business. 

The Alumni Dinner will be Saturday, October 2, 6 p.m. in the T.J. Roberts Dining Hall. 

Reservations required. 

Dr. Betty L. Siegel and her husband Dr. Joel Siegel 

in the Royal Enclosure at the Royal Ascot Races in June 2010. 

Author’s Row Book Signing 

at Homecoming 2010 Carnival 

UC will host six authors during the Homecoming Port-of- 

Call Carnival. The Carnival takes place on Saturday, October 

2, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Briar Creek Park and will 

feature the following authors: 

• Terri Karnes 

• Lisa Hibbs 

• Barry Vann 

• Evelyn Pearl Carpenter Anderson 

• Nancy Jensen 

• Jennifer McBay Barry 

• Ken Cooper 

• Mrs. Chester Young (will not be in attendance but will provide 

copies of husband’s book, “To Win the Prize.”) 

Authors will be available for book signings during this time. 

Photo Submitted 

Five Alumni to be inducted into 

Hall of Honor during Homecoming 

During Alumni Dinner at Homecoming, Saturday, October 2, 

2010 in the T. J. Roberts Dining Hall, the following alumni will 

receive the listed awards and will be named to the Alumni Hall 

of Honor: 

• Teddy Byrd, ’70, Alumni Appreciation 

• Howard & Liz Atkinson, ’71 & ’70, Religious Service 

• David Atwood, ’09 Young Alumnus 

• Harry “Gippy” Graham, ’50, Distinguished Alumnus 

• H. Ray Hammons, ’90, Alumnus of the Year 



5

CAMPUS NEWS 

University of the Cumberlands’ new online master’s program utilizes video conferencing with Christian leaders 

University of the Cumberlands’ new online Master of Arts in Christian Studies (MACS) program utilizes nationally known Christian 

leaders as guest speakers in the virtual classroom. According to Dr. Keith Goforth, director of the program, “Students will be able 

to dialogue [with] and learn from some of the most respected and influential Christian leaders 

in the nation. This is done by bringing guest speakers into the virtual classroom through web 

conferencing. It’s like attending a conference but also having the opportunity to dialogue with the 

guest speaker and obtain a degree.” 

An important element of each course is providing students the opportunity to exchange ideas in 

discussion boards and work on practical case studies related to real ministry experiences. Online 

guest speakers then have the opportunity to comment on these same discussions and case studies, 

imparting their expertise in specific ministry fields. Guest speakers for the fall terms include Thom 

Rainer, Perry Noble, Leonard Sweet, Reggie McNeal, Shane Claiborne, Tony Merida, Marlene 

LeFever, Doug Fields, Paul Chitwood, Bill Henard and Voddie Baucham. 

According to Dr. Bob Dunston, chair of the Religion Department, "The Master of Arts in Christian 

Studies program is designed to blend both the academic study of the Bible and Christian theology 

with the practical application of Biblical faith and theology in ministry settings. Our program will 

challenge and encourage our students to think critically and creatively as they apply the gospel in 

the 21st century.” 

For more information, go to http://gradweb.ucumberlands.edu/religion/macs or call 606-539-4222. 

Dr. Keith Goforth, director of 

Cumberlands new Master of 

Arts in Christian Studies. 

Dr. J. Charles Smiddy 

1926-2010 


University of the Cumberlands lost a dear friend on June 30, 2010, when Dr. J. Charles Smiddy 

passed away in Knoxville, Tenn. 

A member of Cumberlands’ Board of Trustees since 1995, J. Charles Smiddy also held 

an honorary doctorate in business administration from the University. A strong supporter of 

Cumberlands, he provided the funding for the J. Charles Smiddy Campus Entrance Building 

and the Smiddy Learning Center as well as the beautiful fountain and rose garden in front 

of the Center, which honors the memory of his wife of 59 years, Jean Marion Smiddy. 

“My heart has been in this town for years,” Smiddy once remarked. 

A native of Williamsburg, Dr. Smiddy returned from service as a U.S. Marine in 

World War II and began his business career as co-owner and manager of S. D. Smiddy and 

Son Grocery in Jellico. He then became an area salesman for the Renfro Wholesale Grocery in 

Williamsburg. 

In 1952, Smiddy joined White Lily Foods Company and retired in 1995 as the 

vice president of consumer sales. After retirement he served as President and CEO of S.N.S. 

Enterprises, Inc., and C.N.E. Enterprises, Inc. 

Dr. Smiddy was a long time member of Central Baptist Church of Fountain City 

and a member of Moulders Sunday School Class. 

He is survived by three children: Gloria Smiddy Price and Robert C. Price, Robert M. 

Smiddy and Marketta Harris Smiddy, Carolyn Smiddy Ellenburg and Dr. Donald Ellenburg, six 

grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, as well as many other friends and relatives. 


CAMPUS NEWS 

 

 

WILLIAMSBURG, KENTUCKY 

Ward Correll Health and Wellness 

Center coming to Cumberlands 

Big changes met returning students as they arrived 

for fall classes. Heavy equipment and new excavation 

dominated the central part of campus behind the 

Boswell Campus Center (BCC), in front of Moss 

Hall (formerly Roburn) and around the viaduct; 

and the campus Boulevard from the Bock entrance 

to the clock tower had (temporarily) become one 

two-street. This is all part of the preparation for 

the construction of Cumberlands’ new health and 

wellness center, which will include the current 

BCC. 

During the summer, as this first phase got 

underway, the University received the wonderful 

j o h n s o n e a r l y a r c h i t e c t s 

131 prosperous place, suite 19b lexington, kentucky 40509 

news that Somerset philanthropist, Ward Correll, 

phone: 859-259-1515 fax: 859-231-5060 e-mail: earlyjb@jearchitects.net 

had committed a $1 million gift toward the 

construction of the complex, which will be named 

the Ward Correll Health & Wellness Center. With this generous gift, plans will continue to go forward for the completion of this 

much needed building, which will house the campus center, the intramural recreational program, general exercise and aerobic 

exercise areas, a test and measurement laboratory, a community outreach room and a counseling area for nutrition, diabetes, 

cardiovascular disease, stress management, emotional health, and smoking cessation. 

The center will provide opportunities not only for students, faculty and staff members but also for the wider community to have 

access to programs and facilities that can help them live better, healthier lives. 

STUDENT HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER SCHEMATIC DESIGN 

10/7/2009 9:00:56 AM 



7

The Future 

and You 

“I love Cumberlands, and I want to make a difference 

in the lives of students—today and in the future. 

What can one person do?” 

Remember Cumberlands 

For most alumni, thoughts of Cumberland College or University of the 

Cumberlands, are based on the past. Memories. Recollections. Nostalgia. 

Reminiscences. However, alums like Dr. Henry H. Davis, Jr., ’43, not 

only think about Cumberlands’ past but also about its future—a future in 

which he plans to play a major role. 

You may ask, “How can that be? The class of 1943 is a part of 

Cumberlands’ past, not its future.” 

The answer is simple: planned giving. 

Dr. Davis loves Cumberlands and wants tomorrow’s students to have 

outstanding learning opportunities, just as he did. He has established a 

gift annuity that not only helps future students but also provides a steady 

income for himself for the remainder of his lifetime or the lifetime of a 

designated loved one. 

You, too, can have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to 

secure Cumberlands’ future while you receive a fixed income from your gift’s 

earnings. That’s how someone who shares and remembers Cumberlands’ 

past can also share in and make a significant impact on its future. 

If you would like to join Dr. Davis helping to ensure not only 

Cumberlands’ future but also the future of hundreds of students who will 

walk in your footprints on this historic campus, you, too, can establish a 

gift annuity or another planned gift. 

Call Dr. Jim Taylor at 606-539-4201 to learn how you can ensure that 

you will share in Cumberlands’ future as well as its past. 


Dr. Henry H. Davis, Jr.,’43, will always have a “soft spot” for Cumberland College, now University of the Cumberlands, and although 

he has lived in Monroe, Louisiana, since 1958, he says, “When I think of ‘home,’ I still think of Williamsburg. 

After graduating from Williamsburg High School, it was only logical to enroll at Cumberland, where Dr. Davis says he received an 

excellent education. “It was a great privilege to study at Cumberland where my teachers had a tremendous effect on me,” he said. “People 

like Ms. Bess Rose and P.R. Jones were very influential in directing my scholastic life.” Davis continues to be proud of Cumberlands today 

and praises Dr. Taylor’s vision for the school’s remarkable progress. 


Upon graduating from Cumberland College, Davis attended the 

University of Louisville, where he was part of the Navy V-12 unit, an 

accelerated program that helped provide college-educated naval officers 

who were in demand during World War II. A 1944 graduate of U of 

L, he attended dental school at Loyola University and graduated in 

1947. Dr. Davis then trained in oral surgery at Charity Hospital in 

New Orleans, and during the Korean War, he served on active duty 

as a Navy dentist from 1950-52. 

During his extensive career, one experience stands out for Dr. 

Davis. In 1967, he had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer 

with Project HOPE in Columbia, where he spent three months 

and worked with patients alongside a local doctor, offering support 

and teaching new techniques. When Project HOPE left the area, 

equipment and supplies were left to help the local doctors continue 

the work. This experience had a profound and lasting effect on Dr. 

Davis. 

Although retired from his 35-year private practice in Monroe 

for about 15 years, Davis is involved with a maxillofacial residency 

program in Shreveport and serves as an assistant professor at LSU 

Health Sciences Center. A modest man who does not like to talk about 

Age 

Charitable Gift Annuity 

Yearly 

Rate 

Tax 

Payment 

Deduction* 

65 5.5% $ 550.00 $ 2,666.30 

70 5.8% 580.00 3,503.30 

75 6.4% 640.00 4,175.70 

80 7.2% 720.00 4,842.50 

85 8.1% 810.00 5,571.50 

90 9.5% 950.00 6,142.00 

*based on minimum age of 65; a gift annuity of $10,000; figures for annual payment and 

IRS discount rate of 2.8% as of July, 2010 

the impact his work has had on his patients, many of whom suffered extreme facial trauma, he simply says, “I like to think I gave them a little 

sunshine.” 

Dr. Davis considers his greatest accomplishments to be one shared with his wife of 62 years, Jean: the success of their four adult children, 

Henry III, Dionne, Carol and Donovan. 

Other Ways to Touch the Future 

Give an Unrestricted Gift 

Unrestricted gifts allow University of the Cumberlands to continue to provide amazing educational opportunities that have earned praise and 

confidence both within and without the educational community. This is reflected in UC’s rankings and the heartfelt gratitude of its graduates. 

Did you know. . . 

• that unrestricted gifts allow President Taylor to address the most urgent needs of the college? 

• that if 10 people give $100, UC can provide an emergency scholarship to a student in need? 

• that if 10 people give $50, a UC student could attend a national conference to present research? 

• that giving is easy? To make your secure online gift today, go to www.ucumberlands.edu/give/online.html or send a gift to: 


President’s Office 

6191 College Station Drive 

Williamsburg, KY 40769 

Even small unrestricted gifts help both today’s students and future students who share many of the same traits that distinguished you when you 

first stepped onto campus. They are bright, eager to learn, a little daunted by the task ahead of them, but also ready to take on the world—just 

as you were. By contributing to their success, you will help to maintain Cumberlands’ reputation for excellence. 

Create an Endowed Scholarship 

Most Cumberlands’ students receive some scholarship assistance. An endowed scholarship, named for you, your family or someone you 

admire, is sustaining and will grow over time, continuing to bless students for many years to come. 

An endowed scholarship fund will allow an individual or family to assist future Cumberlands’ students indefinitely. 



9

Chris Felder,’10 

From: Detroit, Mich. 

Currently working with Progressive Insurance in Cleveland, Ohio 

Major: Business Administration 

President Phi Beta Lambda, recipient of Congressional Black Caucus 

(CBC) Spouses Educational Scholarship, RA 

“It’s important to give back to a school that helped to strengthen my Christian 

values and also provide me with a great education in business. I have a great 

respect for the faculty and administration and know that they will certainly 

use the funds to enrich the students’ educational experience.” 

Amanda Faulkner, ’10 

From: Barbourville. Ky. 

Major: Chemistry/Biology (pre-med) 

Currently attending UK School of Medicine 

Munro Award, STEM Scholarship, P.R. Jones Award, Vallandingham 

Society, Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Queen candidate 2008 

“Attending UC opened so many doors in my life and I can’t help but give 

back because I have been truly blessed. I hope that, by giving back, I can 

assist in making new opportunities available to other students, so that they, 

too, can make the most of their experiences and discover what UC has in 

store for them.” 

Before the ink dried on their diplomas, six 2010 graduates, Chris Felder, Jared Forgety, Ashley Devore, 

Amanda Faulkner, Heather Lopez and Cynthia Kaeser, proved that alumni are never too young to start giving 

back to support Cumberlands’ work. These new alumni who met the Senior Gift Challenge now challenge 

their classmates and other young alums to give just $10 to the Alumni Fund. Not only will your gift provide 

scholarship assistance and the programs, technology and support necessary for the students who walk in your 

footsteps but it will increase the percentage of alumni giving. Alumni giving is one of the strongest factors that 

foundations and corporations consider when choosing to support an institution, so your $10 gift can help to 

pave the way for significant support from other Cumberlands friends. 


25 th Football 

Reunion 

University of the 

Cumberlands will celebrate 

25 years of football when 

the Patriots meet the 

Georgetown Tigers in the 

first home football game of 

the season. 

25 Year Football Celebration 

1985 - 2009 

Celebration Game 

September 18, 2010 - 1:30pm 

James H. Taylor II Stadium 

Georgetown vs. Cumberlands 

The date is Saturday, 

September 18, 2010, and 

kick-off is at 1:30 p.m., at 

James H. Taylor, II Stadium. 

Former players and 

coaches: call (606)539-4355 

for reservations or email 

alumni@ucumberlands.edu. 

Alumni Board of 

Directors President, 

David Rhodes, ’80, 

and Past President, 

Bill Lyttle, ’75, 

announce the 

Board’s donation of 

$15,000.00 to the 

Alumni Scholarship 

Fund. The support 

was derived 

from numerous 

auctions, special 

events and fund 

raising initiatives 

by Alumni Board 

Members and 

volunteers. 



11


Cumberlands’ 

own 

Michelangelo 

Wayne Taylor, Class of ‘72 


work of art, asking God to inspire his vision and guide his hand as he 

interpreted the grief, the hope and the assurance felt by all who have 

lost children.” 

“God undoubtedly inspired Wayne Taylor in his artistic 

memorial to all of our children,” wrote Rosemary Smith in her book, 

Children of the Dome. 

“Folks who appreciate my art know that art communicates. 

Dr. and Mrs. Taylor and the Smiths have suffered such tragedy, and 

they have expressed that the artwork in the domes has helped to bring 

some closure to them, reminding them of the sweetness and goodness 

of life. The ability to help someone who is trouble is great to me,” said 

Wayne. 

Wayne faced several additional challenges to his work in 

the domes, not the least of which was his fear of heights. “I got over 

that!” he said. It’s a good thing. While the domes in the Inn and GCR 

may seem daunting at more than 40 feet, the dome of the Correll 

Science Complex is actually part of the roof and soars 60 feet above the 

marble floor far below. Additionally, he recalls specific incidents that 

characterize each project. 

When he began working on the Inn dome, it was winter and 

the building was under construction, so Wayne found it necessary 

to work wearing a coat and gloves. He spent several long weekends 

painting the mural, driving from his home in Ohio on Friday afternoon 

and returning Sunday afternoon. A scissor lift truck made it possible to 

reach the ceiling, and as the building neared completion, he found that 

while one weekend it would be freezing, the next it would be stiflingly 

hot up in the dome. 

Work on the GCR dome began during fall break, and the 

campus was deserted. Once, as Wayne painted high in the ceiling, 

he looked down and could not see the floor for the dense layer of 

smoke that covered it. Without his knowing, the scissor mechanism 

had overheated and caught fire. All alone on campus, Wayne used his 

cell phone to dial 911. Fortunately, the fire did not flame up, but 

simply produced great clouds of smoke. After the firefighters rescued 

Wayne from his perch, one of them asked, “What were you doing up 

there in the air painting naked babies. 

The Correll Science Complex project required the 

construction of complex scaffolding, which Wayne carefully negotiated 

each time he painted as he became adjusted to its moving and swaying. 

As the mural developed, Dr. Taylor requested to see its progress, and 

since the framework blocked his view from the rotunda floor, he scaled 

the scaffolding to observe the painting. “I was impressed with his 

physicality and his enthusiasm for the work,” said Wayne. 

He has also been impressed with the way Dr. Taylor has turned 

his vision for Cumberland College into the impressive university it 

is today. After hearing Dr. Taylor quote Daniel Burnham, who said, 

“Make no small plans; they have no power to stir men’s souls,” Wayne 

took that quote to heart and applied it to his work and his life. “I knew 

Dr. Taylor followed that rule, and it has carried me through many hard 

times, including two bouts with cancer,” he said. 

Wayne continues to work in a variety of venues, designing 

and painting. He and Mimi, who still teaches second grade in the 

Kettering system, are the parents of two adult sons, Nathan, a medical 

sales specialist, and Brent, a professional photographer in New York. 

Wayne also is active with the Miami Artists Guild, and he secured 

funding and designed the Fairmont Art Gallery for Kettering City 

Schools. 

Although Wayne Taylor undoubtedly will continue to 

create works that “stir men’s souls,” he will always be remembered 

as University of the Cumberlands’ “Michelangelo” because of the 

remarkable, meaningful showpieces he has created on campus. 


Joseph Alsip, ‘31 


At the time of his death on June 2, 2010, Joseph M. Alsip, 104, of Frankfort, Kentucky, was one of the oldest living alumni of 

what is now University of the Cumberlands. 

Born in Whitley County on March 13, 1906, Joe Alsip graduated from Berea Normal School, and then from Cumberland 

Junior College in 1931, He received his bachelor’s degree in 1934 at Eastern Kentucky University, and 

he earned a master’s degree in school administration from the University of Kentucky in 1949. Alsip played baseball for both Berea 

Normal and Cumberland and went on to play on camp teams, where he played three years for Packard in the Eastern Kentucky- 

Tennessee league. 

He taught in one-room schools at Bobtown and Corinth in Whitley County, and in schools at Barton and Gatliff. 

Later Alsip served as principal at Packard Independent and Woodbine County schools; and as superintendent of Williamsburg 

City and London City schools. He also taught as an adjunct professor at Cumberland College and Union College. 

In 1956, Alsip became an auditor in the Bureau of Administration and Finance of the Kentucky Department of 

Education, and became director of the Division of Finance in 1962 where he served until his retirement in 1974. During his 

career, he supervised and administered the minimum foundation program, which established Kentucky’s leadership in school 

finance, ended nine-month contracts for teachers and based pay on education and experience. 

He and his wife, the late Velma Hill, were married 55 years, from 1933 until her death in 1998 and 

were the parents of one son, Allan. 

Alsip’s many honors include a listing in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest and Eastern Kentucky University’s 

Centennial award for Excellence in Teaching (1974). Upon his retirement, he was honored in the U.S. Congressional Record for 

his outstanding career and his devotion to the field of education. Williamsburg High School Alumni Association inducted him 

into its Hall of Fame in 2001 for his service as superintendent, and on the celebration of his 100th birthday in 2006, 

Alsip was honored on the floor of the Kentucky legislature. 

A member of numerous civic and professional organizations, Alsip had served on the boards of several churches, and 

he was a member of Frankfort First Christian Church since 1989. Alsip continued to live independently, handling all of his own 

affairs until a fall six weeks prior to his death. 

If you are interested 

in hosting an 

event in your area, 

please contact 

Dave Bergman 

at alumni@ 

ucumberlands.edu. 

Look up UC on 

Facebook. 

On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, the Knoxville, Tenn. area alumni gathered at Wild Wings Café’ in Farragut. Pictured left to 

right are Fred Gillum, ’87; Ray Lipps, ’70; Alumni Director, Dave Bergman, ’89; Linda ‘Abby’ Aberdeen, ’83; and Chapter 

Coordinator Melanie (Mackey) Evans, ’90. Those in attendance received information updates from campus and learned 

about future events being planned for alumni. The Knoxville Area Alumni Chapter is actively seeking alumni to participate 

in future gathering. Look up “University of the Cumberland Knoxville Alumni” and post a comment about when, where, 

and who will come to the next meeting. 

Summer 2010 CumberlandToday 15

CAMPUS NEWS 

University of the Cumberlands welcomes 280 new alumni 

On May 8, 2010, 219 aspiring educators, physicians, ministers, dentists, attorneys, business leaders, entrepreneurs, 

engineers, nurses, scientists, computer experts, psychologists, historians, entertainers, missionaries, social workers, law 

enforcement officers, artists, health professionals and civic and political leaders received their reward for four or more 

dedicated years of study—an undergraduate degree from University of the Cumberlands. Among the graduating seniors 

were 16 who graduated cum laude, seven who were magna cum laude and 12 who were summa cum laude. Joining the 

graduating seniors were sixteen professional men and women who comprised the first graduating cohort of Hutton School 

of Business’s MBA program and 45 educators—teachers and administrators—who received master’s degrees in education 

or teaching. All Cumberlands undergraduate students are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community 

service before graduation, and those who choose to complete a minimum of 200 service hours are named Hutton Scholars 

at Commencement. The class of 2010 contributed a total of 26, 177 hours of service to the Williamsburg community, and 

fifty-one graduating seniors were designated Hutton Scholars. 

Congratulations to all Cumberlands’ newest alumni. 

University of the Cumberlands graduated its inaugural cohort of MBA students during the May 8 Commencement exercises. The 

new MBA program began in 2008. Pictured are first row, left to right: Amanda Ellis, Corbin; Amanda Farris, Corbin; Jo Dupier, 

Williamsburg; Shane Furlong, Burnside; Jessica Leonard, Barbourville; Pam Jones, Corbin and Janet Ayers, London; second row: 

Jodie Quillen, Corbin; Chris Brewer, Barbourville; Chris Harp, Corbin; Rusty Ray, London; Robert Moses, Williamsburg; and 

Randle Teague, Barbourville. 


CAMPUS NEWS 

Three students were named Presidential Scholars 

for their accomplishments in research: Amanda 

Faulkner from Barbourville; Tina 

Annie John, from Louisville; and 

Cynthia Kaeser, from Woodstock, 

Ga. Faulkner also received the 

George S. Munro Memorial 

Prize in Pre-Medical Studies, 

which is awarded in recognition 

of academic excellence and effort 

to the graduating senior premedical 

student who has achieved 

the highest grade-point average 

through his or her college career. 

Cynthia Kaeser 

who have exhibited 

sound academic 

a c h i e v e m e n t 

combined with 

superior leadership 

and service to the 

college community 

and the larger 

community as a 

whole. 

The H. N. and Frances 

Berger Awards for the 

outstanding female 

and male members of 

the graduating class 

went to Anne Chandra 

Thomas, of Lexington, 

and Taylor Bowman, 

of Escondido, Calif. 

Each year, these 

awards honor students 

Amanda Faulkner 

Tina Annie John 

As Cumberlands celebrated the accomplishments of the class of 2010, the University also presented an Honorary Doctor of Laws 

degree to Sandra Laney, CEO and Chairman of Cadre Computer Resources of Cincinnati. Laney has been a longtime friend of 

Cumberlands and is a former colleague of the late Dr. Edward L. Hutton, 

whose support of Cumberlands made possible several facilities on campus, 

including the Hutton School of Business, Hutton Woods and Hutton 

Hall. 

Dr. Dale Henry, founder and president of Your Best Unlimited, Inc., a 

Tennessee-based training company, addressed the graduating seniors. 

Henry, an educator, administrator, author, motivational speaker, trainer, 

consultant and 

entrepreneur 

who comes 

from East 

Tennessee and 

the foothills of 

the Smoky Mountains, has developed his own brand of “edu-tainment.” 

Using his storytelling skills to illustrate his points, Henry made his 

address one that the graduates and the audience will long remember. 

“Keep your eye on your passion. Keep your heart full of love for those 

you will work with, for many of them will be unlovable. Smile, it’s the 

only way we all know that you have joy in your life,” he said. “And 

remember, the tasks you did not complete at first are the ones that will 

take you to that place where you want to be.” 



17

Congratu 

Class of 


tulations 

f 2010 

Kid’s Corner 

Summer 2010 CumberlandToday 19

Tribute Gift Program Honor or Memorialize a Loved One 

What is a Tribute Gift? 

A Tribute Gift shows love and respect for the person being honored or memorialized. It says to others that the world is a better place 

because of this person. Through a Tribute Gift to University of the Cumberlands, a memory of the past or an honor of the present is tied 

to the future, as it is made to live on in the lives of our students. The size of the gift you send is up to you. Many send the amount they 

would spend on floral arrangements or presents. Gifts generally range from $15 to $1,000, but the right amount for you is the one your 

heart tells you to send. 

What is an Honor Gift? 

An Honor Gift is a tribute gift, that shows admiration and respect for a loved one or friend on a significant day in that person’s life, such 

as a birthday, anniversary or other milestone. 

What is a Memorial Gift? 

A Memorial Gift is a tribute gift in memory of a departed loved one or friend. It is a wonderful way to express sympathy and high regard 

or as a means to remember birthdays, anniversaries or other special days in the life of a deceased loved one. 

How are Tribute Gifts Acknowledged? 

For a Memorial Gift, an appropriate card is sent, on the same day the gift is received by the university, to the family of the one you wish 

to memorialize. Then the name of the giver and the deceased will be listed in the next issue of Cumberland Today. 

For an Honor Gift, the honoree is sent an appropriate card listing the name of the giver, as well as the occasion for the honor. Then the 

name of the giver and the name of the honoree will be listed in the next issue of the Cumberland Today. 

How will your Tribute Gift help? 

Your gift will provide a lasting legacy for our students as it is used to help provide scholarship and workship assistance, books, supplies, 

food, housing and many other supportive services. 

If you would like to send a gift to be included in our Tribute Gift Program, please send the gift along with the appropriate additional 

information to: 

Tribute Gifts 




Listings reflect the Tribute Gifts received February 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010. In preparing this list, every 

effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness. If a mistake was made in the way you are identified, 

or if your name was omitted, we apologize. You can help set the record straight. Please notify the President’s Office 

regarding any changes in the way your gift should be recorded in future reports. Thank You. 

University of the Cumberlands Tribute Gifts 

Name as you wish it to appear 

Phone Number 

Address 

City State Zip 

In Memory of: 

In Honor of: 

Please Notify: 

Address: 

On the occasion of: 


TRIBUTE GIFTS 

In Memory Of 

In Memory Of: Mary Ruth Arnett 

Given By: Dr. & Mrs. Eric L. Wake 

In Memory Of: Jason Barker 

Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Gary A. Barker 

In Honor Of 

In Honor Of: Dr. Jerry Lowrie 

Given By: Petrey Memorial Baptist Church 

In Honor Of: Jerry & Arvilla Lowrie 

Given By: Dr. & Mrs. J. M. Galloway 

Occasion: 50th Wedding Anniversary 

In Memory Of: Mrs. Lenita Connell Crawford 

Given By: Sherry Roaden & Emily Hollins 

Dr. & Mrs. Eric L. Wake 

In Memory Of: Ray Sanders 

Given By: Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky 

In Memory Of: Dr. J. Charles Smiddy 

Given By: Mr. & Mrs. John W. Bailey 

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Burkhart 

Fountain City Central Baptist Church Bridge 

Builders Sunday School Class 

Gwinnett County Department of Human 

Resources 

Holbrook Peterson & Smith, PLLC 

Dr. & Mrs. David N. Huff 

Vickie, Ashley, Jason & Stefanie Love 

Brad & Brenda Morrison 

Dr. Calvin Perry 

Mr. William F. Regas 

Ms. Marye K. Rose 

Marvin & Wilda Smith 

Mr. Robert Thomas 

Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Westbrook 

Mrs. Florence Young 

In Memory Of: James H. Taylor, II 

Given By: Major & Mrs. Donald Brooke Jones 

“It’s Not Easy Being Green.” 

So, we need your help. 

Provide us with your email address, 

and we will send you Cumberland 

Today electronically. Not only will we 

save thousands of trees by reducing 

the number of printed magazines we 

produce but we will also reduce the 

amount of ink used and prevent many 

pounds of paper from ending up in 

landfills. On top of that—we will 

save money for printing and postage 

that can be put to better use providing 

outstanding learning opportunities 

for Cumberlands’ future alumni! 

Please visit us at 

www.ucumberlands.edu/alumni/update 

and update your contact information. 

You can let us know what’s been 

going on in your life—and you can 

send us your email address. With 

your help, it will be easier to be 

“green” here at Cumberlands. 

FPO 



21

ALUMNI NEWS 

Donovan Fielce Daulton ,’72, lives in 

Lexington, Kentucky. He retired from 

Toyota Motors Manufacturing in 2005 and 

is now a substitute teacher. 

Judy Rose Main Langford, ’78, married 

Edwin Langford, ’79, in 1984. They live in 

Frankfort, with her three children and two 

grandchildren. 

1980’s 

Randall Dobson ,’81, and his wife Janice 

Lee Turner Dobson, ’82, currently reside 

in Ankara, Turkey, where Randall is a test 

engineer employed by the Boeing Company. 

Robert George Farrell, ’81, resides in 

Whitinsville, Mass., where he has retired as 

the director of Hanover Theatre. 

James Roy Hume, ’82, lives in Newburgh, 

Ind., with his wife Dr. Laura Gayle Schultz 

and his son Joseph, 3. His first wife Vickie 

Ann Hume passed away on April 17, 2007, 

following the birth of their son. James and 

Laura were married on December 31, 2008. 

Keith Gannon, ’85, has been named to the 

University of Kentucky Board of Directors. 

He is CEO and principal owner of Boneal, 

Inc., a nationally recognized provider 

of manufacturing services, sourcing, 

procurement and logistics support to both 

public and private clients. He earned his 

Ph.D. in physical chemistry and worked as 

a research scientist at BASF Corporation 

before coming to Boneal. He and his wife, 

Georgetta Hollon Gannon, ’85, are the 

parents of two daughters. 

1990’s 

Michael Royer, ’91, was a candidate 

for representative from Ohio’s 18th 

Congressional District in the 2010 

Republican primary. He lives in Carroll, 

County, Ohio, and has been a police officer 

in Carroll and Tuscarawas counties, and has 

worked as a machine operator at Colfor 

Manufacturing, Inc. in Malvern, Ohio. 

ALUMNI ARTS SPOTLIGHT 

Brittney Venable’01 

Brittney Venable has taken her theatre dreams all the way from Whitley 

County to the stages of New York. “When people think of professional 

theatre, Broadway. . . immediately comes to mind,” said Venable. However, 

she has a different view of theatre and how she wants to fulfill her own 

aspirations. 

At Cumberlands, as a communications and theatre major, Venable acted 


in several campus productions and worked as the lead news anchor and the program manager for the campus TV station, and she was 

not certain about pursuing a career in theatre. After graduation, she worked for two years at WKDP, a Corbin radio station, where she 

gained experience behind the scenes as news director and special events coordinator, and on-air as co-host of “Brittney and the King in the 

Morning.” Then, missing the theatre and assessing the considerable skills she had acquired at the radio station, she realized she wanted to 

go into theatre management. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech, as she wanted to grow up a bit more before moving 

to New York. 

Venable has relied on much she learned at Cumberlands, saying that everyone on campus had always 

been supportive. “One of the most important things I learned is, “Rejection is okay,” she said. She enjoyed 

doing everything in the theatre at Cumberlands from building sets to appearing on stage. “I had the 

opportunity to see where I could excel. I learned to go and pitch in; to do what has to be done; push to 

excel.” 

In New York, Venable has worked with the Children’s Orchestra, and now she has “a day job” as an event 

planner for a hedge fund, in its philanthropic efforts. But her heart is in the theatre. She has appeared in 

and worked in numerous productions, mostly with new and emerging playwrights and in independent 

films, and at the Tribeca Film Festival She has done backer’s readings for producers, worked with Workshop 

Theatre Company, done voice-overs and conducted workshops at South Plains College in Levelland, 

Texas, and throughout these and all her other her endeavors, she has followed one tenet, “Always do your 

best. Keep going forward.” 


Brittney Venable as Lady McBeth in a recent production of the 

Shakespeare classic, pictured with an unidentified actor. 



27

Judge William Arthur Lamkin, JR 


Former trustee, Judge William Arthur Lamkin, Jr. passed away at his home on May 7, 2010. 

A graduate of Ekron High School, Judge Lamkin served as principal of Meade County Elementary school, graduated 

from the University of Kentucky and, at the age of 25, was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature. 

After serving two terms, in 1942, he volunteered for the US Naval Reserves and received officer training at Harvard University. 

A lieutenant J.G., he served with Fleet Airwing 3 in Panama, and in Washington as a communications officer with PV 

Squadron 199 until World War II ended. He taught at Fern Creek High School in Louisville while he attended the Jefferson 

School of Law until he received his license to practice law in 1948. As assistant attorney general for the Kentucky State Health 

Department, he was the first State-employed attorney to help develop and enforce environmental laws. He was chief legal 

counsel with the Kentucky State Highway Department and retired in 1987 as a federal administrative law judge for the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services. 

As well as serving as a trustee of Cumberland College, he was a trustee for the Kentucky Baptist Foundation and the 

Kentucky Independent College Foundation. A longtime member of Hurstbourne Baptist Church, he served as a deacon and 

adult Sunday School teacher. 

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marilyn Jean Russell Lamkin; children, Elaine Lamkin, William Arthur 

Lamkin III, Jane Fausz and Nancy Birdsong,; grandchildren, Daniel, Andrew and Thomas Williams and Alexander and Emily 

Birdsong; and a brother, Howard Lamkin. 

HOMECOMING 2010 

OCTOBER 1, 2 & 3 

FUN! 

FRIENDS! 

DON’T MISS THE BOAT! 

FIREWORKS! 


Karl Rove speaks on “Leadership in 

Today’s Economy” 

R. Michael (Mike) Duncan, ’71, former chair 

of the Republican National Committee (RNC, 

was on hand to introduce his friend of nearly 

forty years, Karl Rove. 

Ward Correll, a leading businessman and philanthropist in 

Somerset, is president of Tradeway, Inc., Cumberland Lake 

Shell, Inc. and Tradwind Shopping Center, Inc. 

Dr. Dale Henry, an educator, 

motivational speaker and self-described “edu-tainer” is 

founder and president of Your Best Unlimited, Inc., a 

Tennessee-based training company. 

Jesse (Jess) T. Correll is founder and board chair for First 

Southern Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of First Southern 

National Bank, and president of The River Foundation, which 

supports Christ-centered organizations, locally and worldwide. 

Jon Westbrook, from Oldham County, is the owner and CEO 

of East and Westbrook Construction Company, Inc., Pearce 

Ready Mix Concrete, Inc. and several other related real estate 

and construction companies. 

Elmer Whitaker, president and CEO of Whitaker Bank 

Corporation, created Whitaker Foundation, Inc., organized 

exclusively for religious, charitable and educational purposes. 

Dr. J. Charles Smiddy, Cumberlands trustee and philanthropist, 

worked at the Knoxville-based White Lily Foods Company for 

43 years and retired as the vice president of consumer sales. 

Sadly, Dr. Smiddy passed away in June. 

Karl Rove, former 

adviser to President 

George W. Bush, was 

the speaker for the fifth 

annual Center 

for Excellence 

in Leadership 

event, which 

was held in 

April. 

Six regional 

business leaders were honored at the 

event, which is sponsored each year by 

the Forcht Group of Kentucky. The 

six individuals, Ward Correll, Dr. Dale 

Henry, Jesse Correll, J. Charles Smiddy, 

Elmer Whitaker and Jon Westbrook, 

received awards, presented by Dr. Taylor 

and Rove, to honor their leadership and 

entrepreneurial spirit. 

During his address on “Leadership in 

Today’s Economy,” Rove often referred 

to the award winners as examples of the 

kind of leadership necessary to help our 

nation succeed. He also cited numerous 

historical examples of individuals, often 

unlikely ones, who stepped up and made 

a difference. 

“The greatness of America is to be found 

in the acts of each one of these men, 

and each one of us is called to give; to 

serve someone in need; to serve a cause 

greater than self, to give as an American 

citizen to our great country,” Rove stated 

emphatically. “That’s what America’s 

about. And, as long as we have that spirit, 

as long as [we have] institutions like 

this, as long as in our families and our 

friendships and our fellowships, we find 

a way to encourage that spirit, then this 

country is going to remain exactly what it 

is; not only the greatest nation on the face 

of the planet, but the greatest nation in 

the history of the world.” 

Rove is the former deputy chief of staff 

and senior adviser to President George 

W. Bush; the author of “Courage and 

Consequence;” a Fox News contributor; 

a columnist for Newsweek; and the writer 

of a weekly op-ed piece for the Wall Street 

Journal. 

Summer 2010 CumberlandToday 

Summer 2010 CumberlandToday 23 

23

Douglas Wayne Smith, ’94, is a part-time 

student in biochemistry at University New 

Mexico and works as a part-time, chemistry/ 

biology tutor and an instructor at Central 

New Mexico Community College in 

Albuquerque. 

Leslie Brent West and his wife Karen G. 

Manning West, ’94, B.S., ’97, M.A., live 

in Corbin, where he teaches Mathematics 

at Corbin High School and is assistant 

basketball coach for the boys’ team. Karen 

is Special Projects Curriculum supervisor for 

Corbin Independent Schools and co-chair 

of the Advisory Council for Kentucky 21st 

Century Community Learning Centers. 

Molly Amelia Edwards Shockey, ’95, 

resides in West Alexandria, Ohio with her 

husband, Pat and three children: Mattie, 

14, Sammy,12, and Cooper,9. She has 

been a Kindergarten teacher at Camden 

Elementary in Camden, Ohio for 13 years. 

Michael Alan Griebe, ’96, lives in Versailles 

with his wife and their son Ashton Jensen, 

born January 28, 2010. 

Jeff Townsley, ’96, was named chief student 

services officer for Greeneville (Tenn.) City 

Schools this summer. He earned a master’s 

degree in educational leadership from East 

Tennessee State University in 2005, and he is 

the former assistant principal of Greeneville 

Middle School. Townsley and his wife 

Brandi have two children, a daughter Ali, 

11, and a son Walker, 7. 

Nancy Kessler Lane, ’97, and Michelle 

Duty McKelvy, ’98, 

became National 

Board certified 

teachers this year. 

They traveled 

to Frankfort 

in March and 

were recognized Photo Submitted 

by the House and the Senate for their 

achievement. 

Hon. Jackie Steele, ’98, is Commonwealth’s 

Attorney for the 27th judicial circuit, 

appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear in 

2008. Steele earned his juris doctorate at 

Salmon Chase College of Law at Northern 

Kentucky University, and he serves on the 


Laurel County Republican Party Executive 

Committee. He and his wife Joyce, ’99, 

have three children: Jacob, Joshua and 

Jordan. 

Allison Wedding Lay, ’99, and her husband 

Victor Lay welcomed their first child, 

Caroline Capri on 

July 15, 2009. They 

live in Powell, Tenn., 

where Allison is 

currently the senior 

product manager 

for DeRoyal, the 

company where she 

Photo has worked Submittedsince 

June 1999. 

2000’s 

Layla Wright, class of 2000, completed her 

B.S. and earned an M.Ed at East Tennessee 

State University. She currently serves 

as disability program navigator for the 

Alliance for Business and Training (AB&T) 

in Johnson City, Tenn. Hoping to inspire 

other young women who need to “find 

their wings,” she published her first book of 

poetry in Feb. 2010. 

Janet Lynn Breese Jones, ’00, and 

her husband, John A. Jones,’00, live in 

Inverness, Fla., with their three children, 

Jessica, Jackson and Julia. 

Simeon Phillip Hodges, ’00, and his wife, 

Melody live in Westerville, Ohio with their 

two children. Simeon is a medical physicist 

at Mount Carmel Health System. 

Benjamin Andrew Harper , ’00, and his 

wife, Susanna Kelley Harper, ’00, live in 

Powell, Tenn. with their two daughters, 

Kendall Grace and Meredith. 

Emily Jean Vought Judd, ’00, lives in 

Ocala, Fla., with her husband Millard and 

their first child Millard Ray Judd, IV, who 

was born January 17, 2010. 

Darla Lynn Stittums Nelson, ‘00, resides 

in Lafollette, Tennessee with her husband, 

Chad and their four children, Keegan 3 ½ 

, Justin and Johnathon both 11 and Jalah 

9 ½. 

Tammy Lee Allen Ramalho, ’00, lives in 

ALUMNI NEWS 

London, Kentucky 

with her husband 

and their daughter 

Victoria Paige 

Ramalho. 

Darius “Dee” 

Ward, ’01 and 

Laura Denney 

Ward, ’01, were recently appointed by the 

SBC International 

Mission Board as 

missionaries in 

Allegre, Brazil. They 

are the parents of 

Camden, 5, Tanner, 

3, and Dristen, who 

was born in June 7, 

2010. Fellow alumni 

and friends may follow Photos their Submitted mission at: 

http://www.wardsinbrazil.blogspot.com. 

Nina Lois Hall Shotwell, ’03, and David 

Bradford-Ross Shotwell, ’03, reside in 

Louisville, where Nina is employed in 

the residential department of Louisville 

Independent Case Management. 

Joshua Daniel Benton, ’04, lives in 

Frankfort with his wife Emily and their 

son Silas Joshua Benton, who was born on 

January 26, 2010, adopted by the Bentons 

on May 11, 2010. Joshua is the economic 

development manager for the Kentucky 

Cabinet for Economic Development 

Bluegrass Skills Corporation, and he is the 

youth minister at East Frankfort Baptist 

Church. 

Carol Ruth Kieffer Tudor, ’05,and her 

husband, Jeremiah Tudor, ’03, reside in 

Georgetown with their son Eli David Tudor 

born June 6, 2009. 

Brandy Amber Smith Hill, ’05, resides in 

Marietta, Ga., with her husband and two 

children. 

Dedra Burke Duty, ’06, has moved to 

Hamilton, Ala., where she works as a 

communications writer with the worldwide 

Ramp Ministry. Dedra and her 

husband have a baby due in October.




R 

a y f o r d 

Watts, ’63, has a habit of saying, “I believe I 

could do that.” Although he spent his career of 36 years in 

the classrooms 

of Cumberland College, he now is busily “un-retired” 

at Paint Creek 

Farm and Pottery in Whitley County, continually taking 

on new endeavors. 

Rayford and his wife, D. June Queener Watts, ’62, purchased 

the farm, comprised of approximately 100 acres, in 1998, 

when they be- 

gan working on their beautiful, unique home and the many 

outbuildings 

that lend the farm its charm. 

In 1973, Ray- 

ford was a professor of English at Cumberland who had attended 

craft fairs, watched potters and decided, “I believe I could do that.” He saved up the money 

for a wheel, and his first venture, Indian Mountain Pottery, in Jellico, was born. Since then, he and June operated Briar Creek 

Pottery before landing on the banks of Paint Creek. 

“We just found our way,” says Rayford about how they learned the business and the necessary skills to produce the 

beautiful, functional pieces they create. “We mix all the glaze colors ourselves, experimenting until we find what we want.” He 

turns, glazes and fires the pieces, and June does the sculptural embellishments. 

From the very beginning, they found a market for their creations. Rayford and June first attended many craft fairs and 

shows to sell their wares, but now they are content to have people come to them. Their signature pieces can be seen in the whimsical, 

cozy gallery that they built themselves and adorned with a fanlight window from the elementary school June attended in 

Jellico, Tenn., and stained glass windows from their former home in Jellico and from their earlier pottery business. However, 

they do not keep regular hours, “We’re just not shop people,” said Rayford. 

Producing about 2,300 pieces a year, Paint Creek Pottery creates many of those pieces for Cumberlands’ president, Dr. Jim 

Taylor, who presents pieces of pottery to special friends of the University each year at Christmas. 

Coming from a family of artisans, (His grandfather was a furniture maker and woodworker, and his brother also works in 

wood.) Rayford, too, has a gift for designing and building with wood; a fact that is evident in the home, barn, studio, garage and 

chicken house, which he and June have built in addition to the gallery. “We’re pretty frugal and like to scrounge things and put 

them to new uses,” he says of the interesting windows 

and special gingerbread touches that show up in all the 

farm’s buildings. 

A native of Perry County, Rayford grew up in 

an unusual community in Indiana, nicknamed “Little 

Hazard,” where almost everyone was from one of a few 

counties in Eastern Kentucky. His family, like so many 

from the region, had found it necessary to move away 

to find employment. His high school basketball team 

had only one member who was an Indiana native. So, 

although he grew up in a “northern” state, his upbringing, 

attitudes and family life had a distinctly Appalachian 

flavor. 

Recently, Rayford has discovered yet another 

talent. In 2005, he began taking guitar lessons from 

Virgil Bowlin, ’97. Then in the fall of 2009, he decided 

to try his hand at songwriting, again saying, “I believe 

I could do that.” Since then he has written dozens of 


songs. Some are humorous; some concern today’s economic situation; 

some are about heartbreak, or family or love; and some combine any 

or all of these themes, but they all reflect Rayford’s unique, yet truly 

Appalachian view of the world. 

“You know, everyone who writes a song wants to make a cd as 

a record of what he’s accomplished,” said Rayford. “So, I asked Virgil to 

sing the songs I’ve written, and now we’ve made volumes one through 

three of ‘Virgil Sings Rayford,’ with Virgil doing vocals and accompaniment 

on several different instruments. 

I help out a little. We’re 

now working on our fourth cd.” 

Rayford and June are 

the parents of one daughter, 

Julia, and enjoy having her and 

Rayford and June Watts 

their grandson, Alec, visit them, “Up on Paint Creek,” where Rayford continues to find new 

ways to express his creativity. It only requires the confidence to believe in his ability. 

June Watts with Paint Creek Kiss 

Athletic Hall of Fame 

induction ceremony 

Feb. 19 

October 2010 

S M T W Th F S 

1 11 12 

13 14 5 16 17 18 19 

10 111 112 13 114 15 16 

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

24 

31 

Homecoming!! 

25 26 27 28 29 30 

Graduation 

May 7, 2011 

10 a.m. 

Oct. 1, 2 & 3 

SAVE THE DATE! 

*Homecoming, Alumni & Student Weekend-- 

Oct. 1, 2 & 3, ‘10 

*Battle for the Brass Lantern, Union College 

vs. Cumberlands 

Homecoming Football Game - 1:30 p.m., 

Oct. 2, 2010 

*Campus Discovery Days for Prospective Students 

and Parents --9:00 a.m., Oct. 30, 2010, Jan. 22. & 

March 5, 2011 

*Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - 

Feb. 19, 2010 

Basketball: Shawnee State University 

vs Cumberlands 

Tipoff: women - 2 p.m.; men - 4 p.m. 

*Induction during halftime of the men’s game 

Athletic Hall of Fame Auction between games 

*Career Fair for Students, Alumni and Prospective 

Employers --TBA March 2011 

*21st Century Leadership Program - TBA 

April 2011 

*Honors Day Convocation - 10 a.m., April 25, 2011 

*Graduation/Commencement Exercises - 10 a.m., 

May 7, 2011 



25

ALUMNI NEWS 

ENGAGEMENTS, MARRIAGES 

AND ANNIVERSARIES 2000’s 

1950’s 

Jerry Hummel, ’58, and Lib Sutton 

Hummel celebrated their 50th wedding 

anniversary in Orange, Texas, on June 28, 

2009. They were married on June 28, 1959, 

at First Baptist Church of Williamsburg. 

Dr. Jerry Lowrie, ’58, and Helen Arvilla 

Lowrie, ’81, announce their 50th wedding 

anniversary on June 26, 2010. 

1960’s 

Bob, ’65, and Carolyn Underwood,’ 65, 

celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary 

on January 23, 2010, with a celebration 

at Main Street Baptist Church in 

Williamsburg. 

1980’s 

Charles W. Smith, Jr., ’88, and Dinah 

Bates Smith, ’88, announce their 20th 

wedding anniversary. They said their vows 

the first time in October, 1989. 

1990’s 

Joe Allen Fuson, ’98, and Kimberly Sue 

Creech announce their marriage on June 6, 

2009. 

Melissa Stokes, ’90, announces her 

marriage to Mickey Bradam on January 

30, 2010, at the Jellico United Methodist 

Church in Jellico, Tennessee. The bride 

is a registered nurse at Blount Memorial 

Hospital in Maryville, Tennessee, and the 

groom is currently employed at Denso 

Manufacturing in Maryville, Tennessee. 

Michael Mark Sztanyo, ’97, and Heather 

Ghent were married on January 4, 2003. 

They reside in Florence with their four 

children, David, born April 4, 2004; 

Marisa, born January 9, 2006; Joseph, 

born September 23, 2007 and Hallie, born 

August 24, 2009. 

Christy Nicole Taylor, Class of ’98, and 

Glen Casey Sears announce their marriage of 

June 27, 2009. Christy is a registered nurse 

employed at Central Baptist Hospital in 

Lexington, and Casey is a speech pathologist 

with the Whitley County School System. 

Heather Evelyn Turner Miles, ’00, 

announces her marriage on July 19, 2009. 

Tammy Lee Allen Ramalho, ’00, announces 

her marriage of October 18, 2009. Tammy 

and her husband are living in London, 

Kentucky with their new baby. 

Sheridan Duncan Satterly, ’04, was 

married to Jeremiah Satterly on October 3, 

2009. The newlyweds are now residing in 

Danville, Kentucky. 

Brittany Lachelle O’Neal, ’05, and James 

Christopher Reid were married May 22, 

2010. Following her graduation, Brittany 

earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from 

Samford University McWhorter School 

of Pharmacy. Chris holds a Bachelor of 

Science degree in agriculture from Eastern 

Kentucky University. 

Monica Sue Miller, ’06, and Randy Gene 

Love were married June 20, 2009. Randy 

is a 2009 graduate of Eastern Kentucky 

University where he received a degree in 

middle school education. 

Katie Ann Houck Barnes, ’07, and 

Nathan Barnes, ’06, were married May 30, 

2009. The happy couple lives in Louisville, 

Kentucky. 

Lindsay Blair Pace, ’07, and Daniel 

Wesley Lowe, ’08, were married September 

5, 2009. 

Darren Thomas Stepp ,’07, and Jessica 

Bentley Stepp, ’07, said their vows on 

May 30, 2009, and they reside in Kingston, 

Georgia. 


Anna Clemenz,’ 

07, and Robert 

Moehling, ’08, 

were married 

April 24th, 2010. 

Erica Lynn 

Satterfield, ’08, and Marcus Anthony 

Thornton were married August 29, 2009. 

Erica is employed with Cumberland River 

Comprehensive Care Center. Her husband, 

a member of the Kentucky National Guard 

and a student at Eastern Kentucky University, 

is employed by Logan’s Welding. 

Kristin Brooke Hall, ’08, and Stuart Grant 

Mack, ’09, were married July 25, 2009, at 

Camp Nathanael in Emmalena. They reside 

in Williamsburg. 

Laura Asher Johnson Curry, ’08, and 

Justin Lee Curry II said their vows on June 

22, 2010. Laura is the daughter of Paul and 

Paula Johnson,’74, of Baxter. The happy 

couple lives in Baxter.. 

Lieutenant William George Truett, ’08, 

and Rachel Miranda Cox were married 

December 20, 2008. The couple resides in 

Fort Hood, Texas, where William is stationed 

with the United States Army. 

Jordan Elise Patton, ’08, and Tyler Skiles 

announce their marriage. 

Aaron Joseph Jeffries, ’08, and Danielle 

Leanne Crum were married August 29, 2009 

at the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, 

Kentucky. Aaron is a student at Lincoln 

Memorial University DeBusk College of 

Osteopathic Medicine. The couple resides 

in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee 

Jonathan Andrew Fister, ’08, and Elizabeth 

Nicole Risner (’09) were married June 

20, 2009 at First Baptist Church of New 

Lebanon, Ohio. 

Brent Michael Foley, ’09, and Bethany Nan 

Gibbs were married May 1, 2010 at Calvary 

Missionary Baptist Church. 

Melissa Faye Powers, ’09, and Alec Jacob Day 

were married January 2, 2010, in the Gatliff 

Chapel on University of the Cumberlands’ 

campus with the reception following in the 

Grace Crum Rollins Center. 

Jessica Danielle Penley, ’09, and Denvil 

Ray Davis were married June 13, 2009 at 

the Robinson Creek Missionary Baptist 

Church. Jessica is employed by the 

Laurel County Board of Education, and 

her husband, a student of the Laurel River 

Baptist Seminary Extension, works at Lowe’s 

Home Improvement. 



29

Alumni News 

Thank you to the many alumni who submit information for the Alumni News section 

of the Cumberland Today. We enjoy sharing your news. If you have something to 

submit, please complete and return the form below, or email your news to alumni@ 

ucumberlands.edu. 

Have photos? Just mail your prints or cd, or email you photos to our alumni office. 

Send all materials to: University of the Cumberlands, Alumni Office, 7075 College 

Station Drive, Williamsburg, KY 40769 or alumni@ucumberlands.edu. 

Please publish this Alumni News in the Cumberland Today magazine. 

Name: 

Maiden name: 

Here is my news: 

Class Year: 

ALUMNI NEWS 

CLASS NOTES 

1930’s 

Lorine Compton Trosper, ’39, a retired 

Lexington teacher, was honored in 2009 for 

her outstanding career. 

1950’s 

Carolyn Yvonne Lovitt Bell, ’53, of Smyrna, 

Tenn.is a retired subrogation specialist with 

Permanent General Insurance. A retired piano 

teacher, she has been the church organist for 

51 years. She and her husband Jack M. Bell 

have three children, Earl, Cathy and John 

1960’s 

James Garland Bridges, ’62, retired in 2007 

and lives in Salina, Kansas. He graduated 

from the University of Louisville and the 

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 

then served as an American Baptist pastor in 

Indiana, Iowa and Kansas. Reverend Bridges 

served 12 years as senior pastor of First Baptist 

Church in Salina, Kansas, and now serves as 

an interim pastor for the American Baptist 

Central Region. His current assignment 

is First Baptist Church of Leavenworth, 

Kansas. 

Former Cumberland track and field coach, 

Gordon Bocock, ’67now USATF officials 

certification chair for Kentucky, pictured 

with KHSAA Track 

Official of the Year 

Tim Henderlight,’71, 

who ran for Coach 

Bocock in the late 

60’s and early 70’s. 

Photo enclosed: Yes No 

Please update my records: 

Current Address: 

Email: 

Telephone: 

Cell phone: 

1970’s 

Darryl Wilder, ’70, Photo Submitted 

who was Middlesboro Independent School 

System superintendent for 12 years, retired 

in June 2009. After 39 years in Middlesboro 

education, he is looking forward to spending 

some time with his grandson. 

Christine Marie Maraist Neuner, ’71, and 

David Neuner, ’71, live in Williamsburg. 

They have two children Nikole and Nathalie 

and three grandchildren, Amelia, Ian and 

Phillip. Christine retired after 38 years as 

a teacher in Iberia Parish, La. A member of 

the National Writing Project and Freedom 

Writer Teachers, she is now a Cumberlands 

graduate student. 


Kevin Flora, ’09, and Candace Mack, 

’10, were married June 5th, 2010 at Main 

Street Baptist Church in Williamsburg, KY. 

Candace will attend University of Kentucky 

College of Dentistry this fall, and Kevin 

is currently pursuing his master’s degree 

in Counseling Psychology at University 

of Kentucky. The happy couple resides in 

Lexington. 

Zachary Marshall Jacobs, ’09, and Holly 

Amanda Stroud (current graduate student) 

were married June 20, 2009, at Main Street 

Baptist Church in Williamsburg. A 2007 

graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, 

Holly is an English teacher at Whitley 

County High School. 

She is the daughter of Floyd, ’74, and 

Geraldine Stroud, ’75. Mr. Stroud is 

the track and cross country coach at 

Cumberlands. 

Shonda Wood, ’09, and Joshua Powers 

(current student) were married May 22, 

2010, at Main Street Baptist Church in 

Williamsburg. Joshua is employed by Maiden 

Drug Pharmacy, and Shonda is employed by 

University of the Cumberlands. 

Stephanie Dawn Rogers, ’09, and Andrew 

Jordan Greer were married July11, 2009. 

The groom is a 2009 graduate of Eastern 

Kentucky University with a major in 

Criminal Justice. 

Amy Shemwell, ’09, and John Steely, 

’09, were married July 24, 2010 at Trenton 

Baptist Church in Trenton. Amy is an 

administrative assistant at Baptist Regional 

Medical Center in Corbin, and John is a 

math teacher and boys’ basketball coach at 

Williamsburg Middle School. 

Ryan Scott Reed, ’09, and Jennifer Thoele, 

’10 were married in May. Ryan currently 

serves as a graduate assistant in the English 

department while working toward his 

master’s degree at Cumberlands. 

Kayla Michelle Dupier, 09, and Adam 

Christopher Adkins, ’10, were married July 

18, 2009. Kayla is the daughter of Chuck, 

’96, and Jo Canada Dupier, ’96, MBA, 

’10. 


Jessica Lee Ellen Bailey, ’10, and James 

Riley Perkins were married July 31, 2010, at 

Tannery Hollow Missionary Baptist Church 

in Jellico, Tennessee. Jessica is the daughter 

of William and Kathy Bailey (secretary 

Education Department). 

Nicki Maxey, 2010, and Martin Bryant were 

married May 22, 2010 at Faith Assembly of 

God in London. Nicki is currently employed 

by the Whitley County Board of Education, 

and Martin is employed by Firestone. 

Patrick Snyder Hammond (current 

graduate student) and Kelly Ann Hargis a 

current student at University of Kentucky 

announce their engagement. Patrick, a 2007 

graduate of Western Kentucky University 

is currently pursuing a master’s degree in 

elementary education at University of the 

Cumberlands. He is employed by Bowling 

Green Independent Schools. 

Magan Goins (current student) and Caleb 

McEndree were married December 12, 

2009, at Grace on the Hill in Corbin. 

Magan is employed with Forcht Bank of 

Williamsburg, and Caleb, employed by the 

Whitley County Detention Center, is also a 

PV2 soldier with the United States National 

Guard. The couple resides in Whitley 

County. 

FOND FAREWELLS 

FACULTY/STAFF 

Mary Ruth Arnett, 92, of Williamsburg, 

passed away March 12, 2010. She was the 

daughter of the late J.D. and Ida Hagan 

Stanfield. A graduate of Elmwood Academy 

in Perryville, Campbellsville Jr. College and 

Western Kentucky State College, she taught 

elementary school in Menifee County and 

Paintsville City School and served as the 

cataloguing librarian at Pikeville College 

before assuming that role at Cumberland 

College. A member of First Baptist Church 

in Williamsburg, for 50 years, the VotaVita 

Sunday School Class, the Atkins-Ellison 

Circle and the Williamsburg Woman’s Club, 

she is survived by her son Barry Arnett of 

Rockholds and her daughter Vickie Hollen 

of Williamsburg. 

ALUMNI NEWS 

Eva Allen Hendrickson, former resident of 

Williamsburg and former faculty member at 

Cumberland College, passed away May 9, 

2005, at Westminster Health Care Center 

in Clarksville, Indiana. She was a member 

of the Fourth Avenue United Methodist 

Church of Louisville; a member of the 

William Whitley Chapter of the NSDAR; a 

fifty-year member of the Order of The Eastern 

Star, a former member of the Women’s 

Club of Cumberland College, a member 

of the Williamsburg Women’s Club and a 

Kentucky Colonel.She is survived by three 

daughters, Frankie H. Little, Jeffersonville, 

Ind., Laura Jean Jackson, Corbin, and May 

Sue Campbell, Bardstown. 

1930’s 

Elizabeth Arbuckle, ’36, 93, passed 

away April 8, 2010, at Telford Terrace in 

Richmond. She attended Cumberland 

College and graduated from Eastern 

Kentucky University. Mrs. Arbuckle is 

survived by two daughters, Martha Exline 

and Betsy Ney, both of Richmond; four 

grandchildren; four great grandchildren and 

two nieces. 

Lois Gatliff King, ’36, passed away at her 

home in College Station, Texas, on March 20, 

2010. Mrs. King graduated as valedictorian 

from both Meadow Creek High School and 

Cumberland College. She and her husband, 

Dr. General “Gene” King, moved to College 

Station, Texas, where he joined Texas A 

& M University in the Animal Science 

Department. 

Dr. Manuel P. Romero, ’35, passed away 

June 29, 2009. He was a retired pharmacist 

in Miami, Fla. 

1940’s 

Doris J. Beck Alford, ’43, age 87, passed 

away February 3, 2010, at her home in 

Erwin, Tenn.. She is survived by five 

children: Allen Stephen Alford, Macon, 

Ga.; Donald E. Alford, Johnson City, Tenn.; 

Rob Alford, Erwin, Tenn.; Teresa Lewis and 

Janice Hughes both of Erwin, Tenn.; 13 

grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. 

Cleda Vesta Vanderpool Brockus, ’48, 

Moulton, Iowa, passed away February 27, 

2010 in Rock Hill, S. C. She is survived by

ALUMNI NEWS 

one brother, Cecil Vanderpool, Lorrain, 

Ohio; three daughters, Elizabeth Smith, 

Plano, Texas; Rachel Miller, Wylie, S.C. 

and Deborah Zugg, Mystic, Iowa; and two 

sons, Gerald and Frank Brockus, Moulton, 

Iowa. 

Vivian Siler Delph, ’45, passed away several 

years ago. She was from Williamsburg. 

Rufus Varon Halcomb, ’44, 92, of 

Gainesville, Fla., passed away June 1, 

2010, at North Florida Regional Medical 

Center in Gainesville. He is survived by 

his daughter Ruth Spore, Scottville; three 

grandchildren, four great grandchildren, 

two step-great grandchildren and sister, 

Roberta Hall. 

Robert E. “Bob” Loper, ’48, 85, of Tampa, 

Fla., passed away March 22, 2010. A 

WWII U. S. Navy veteran and retired bank 

examiner, Mr. Loper was a substitute teacher 

with Hillsborough County Public Schools 

until the age of 84. He was also a member 

of First Baptist Church of Tampa and the 

Egypt Temple Shrine. He is survived by his 

nephews, Bill Loper, Denver, Co. and Terry 

L. Loper, Lebanon. 

John G. McAllister, ’47, passed away 

November 30, 2009. 

1950’s 

Bertie Jenkins Bostic, ’58, passed away at 

her home in Clinton, Tenn., on January 30, 

2010. Ms. Bostic taught school for several 

years in Campbell County, Tenn., and at 

the Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center in 

Oak Ridge, Tenn., for 27 years. After the 

center closed she taught special education 

students at Lake City Elementary School 

until her retirement in 1993. She is survived 

by two daughters, Cheryl Bostic Scarboro, 

Augusta, Ga., and Jo Ellen Bostic Emert, 

Norris, Tenn., and one son, Paul “Jenks” 

Bostic, Andersonville, Tenn. 

Oren Lee Collins, Jr., ’56, of North 

Manchester, Ind., passed away May 6, 2010 

at Peabody Retirement Community. He 

graduated from Cumberland College and 

Ohio Northern University with bachelor 

degrees and received his master’s degree in 

bionucleonics from Purdue University. He 

worked as a financial planner with Money 

Concepts for 20 years and retired in 2004. 

Opal Louise Carr Freeman, ’53, of 

Williamsburg, passed away May 17, 2010, 

at the Williamsburg Nursing Home. She 

is survived by her son Gregory Freeman of 

Williamsburg; one sister, Clara Mae Dudek 

of Livonia, Mich., and one brother, Donald 

Carr of Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Mrs. Pauline Fuson, ’50, from Frakes, 

Kentucky is deceased. 

Margaret S. Gillespie, ’50’s, age 77, from 

Lexington, passed away March 20, 2010. 

She is survived by her husband of 58 years 

Raymond H. Gillespie; two sons, Steven 

R. Gillespie of Lexington and Bruce H. 

Gillespie of O’Fallon, Ill.; five grandsons, 

one granddaughter and one greatgranddaughter. 

William “Bill” K. Howard, ’57, age 70, from 

Nicholasville, passed away January 6, 2008, 

at the Hospice Care Center. A U.S. Army 

Korean War veteran, he held a B.S. degree 

in engineering and was an architectural 

consultant for his own company, Certified 

Open Consultants. He is survived by a 

son, Randall Howard, a daughter, Robin M. 

Wagoner, two grandchildren and one great 

granddaughter. 

Lula Belle Tiller Kirkland, ‘50’s, age 77, 

passed away July 11, 2010. She served as a 

librarian at Athens Elementary School for 

many years and she was an avid bird watcher 

and a member of The Iris Society. She is 

survived by her son Samuel Kirkland, Jr. of 

Lexington, three siblings, Shirley Tiller,’56, 

Middlesboro; Morris Tiller, Ft. Wayne, 

Ind. and Betty Tiller of Pineville; and three 

grandchildren. 

Marcella Logan, ’50, from Newton, Iowa, 

passed away July 4, 1996. 

Betty Payne, ’52, from Maceo, Kentucky, 

passed away October 17, 2008. 

Eugene ‘Geno’ Powers, ’55, from 

Jacksonville, Fla., passed away February 18, 

2010. Born in Mount Ash in 1931, Mr. 

Powers served in the U.S. Army during 

the Korean War and was held as a prisoner 

of war for three years. After the war he 

attended Cumberland College and earned 

his Bachelor of Arts Degree in economics 

from Carson-Newman College. He is 

survived by his wife of 46 years, Myrtle 

Dixon Powers, two sons, Michael and Seth 

and two daughters, Angela and Jennifer. 

Jack R. Stearns, ’56, 75, from Louisville, 

passed away April 7, 2010. He was 

retired from General Electric and a U. S. 

Army veteran of the Korean War. He also 

attended Eastern Kentucky University 

and earned a Master of Science degree 

from University of Louisville. A licensed, 

professional, mechanical engineer, Mr. 

Stearns was a member of the Gaslight 

Writers of Jeffersontown and the Louisville 

Poets Guild. He is survived by his wife of 

52 years, Sarah Schumann Stearns, daughter 

Katheryn Stearns Ohkubo, son Jack Martin 

Stearns, a brother, three nieces and three 

grandsons. 

Donald Thomas, ’54, from Pine Knot 

passed away in 1994. 

Lonnie E. Watters, ’52, from Waco passed 

away November 11, 2009. 

1960’s 

Eugene M. Ur, ‘60’s, who passed away in 

2006, was married to Linda Jean Partin 

Bryan, ’68. 

Gifford Lee, ’60, of Frankfort passed away 

suddenly June10, 2009. 

Priscilla B. McCoy, ’60, age 71, of Frankfort, 

formerly of Bell County, Ky., and Claiborne 

County, Tenn., passed away April 14, 2010, 

at Hospice of the Bluegrass in Lexington. 

She is survived by her husband, Charles 

McCoy, her mother, Virginia Goodin Brown 

of Pineville, daughter Kimberly Halbert of 

Knoxville, Tenn., and son Mark Lester of 

Frankfort. 

Doris Reeves Canady, ’62, from Kokomo, 

Indiana is deceased. 

Esley Ann Brennenstuhl, ’62, age 68, passed 

away October 4, 2009, at Select Specialty 

Hospital at Good Samaritan Hospital in 

Lexington. She is survived by her husband 

Phil Brennenstuhl, ’63, of Corbin; one 

son, Brent Brennenstuhl, Bowling Green; 



31

one daughter, Hallie Ingle, Corbin, and 

four grandchildren. 

James Wright, ’63, 71, from Richwood, 

Ohio, passed away December 30, 2009, at 

Riverside Methodist Hospital. He held a 

master’s degree in education from Xavier 

University and furthered his education 

at Bowling Green State University and 

Wright State University. A member of Mt. 

Carmel #303 F&AM, Valley of Columbus 

AASR, Aladdin Shrine, the Honorable 

Order of Kentucky Colonels, Buckeye 

Association of School Administrators, 

Ohio and Union County Retired Teacher 

Association and the OSU Rebounders 

Club, he is survived by his wife of 40 years 

Mary Linda Surber Wright, and his sister, 

Lora Mae Groves, Detroit, Mich. 

Alvis Mitchell Privett, ’64, from Revelo, 

passed away October 19, 2009. 

Clell Willard Metcalf,’ 64, age 66, of 

Harlan, Kentucky, passed away December 

20, 2006. 

Kenneth Mack Washam, ’65, passed away 

October 5, 2009. 

Fred Cox, ’65, 91, passed away February 

9, 2010, at Central Baptist Hospital in 

Lexington. He is survived by his wife of 70 

years, Martha Shelton Cox; two daughters, 

Freda Simpson and Brenda Greer; four 

grandchildren, six great grandchildren; two 

step great grandchildren, one sister, two 

brothers and several nieces and nephews. 

Genive Keith Phillips, ’65, age 71, of 

Monticello, passed away January 24, 2010, 

after a short illness with cancer. She is 

ALUMNI NEWS 

survived by her husband, Samuel Phillips; 

two daughters, Stephanie Jones and Claudia 

Pope and three granddaughters, Jessica and 

Emily Jones and Lindsey Pope. 

Betty Jo Miracle Bryant, ’66, 64, from 

Middlesboro, Tenn., passed away March 20, 

2010, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, 

Tenn. A retired school teacher with the 

Middlesboro School system, she is survived 

by her sister Linda Charles Bray of Frakes; 

niece, Kathy Bray Partin; great nephew, 

Charles Victor Charlie Partin of Frakes; 

special friend, Gerald Cool of Harrogate, 

Tenn.; family friend, Jerry Halcomb and 

several aunts and uncles. 

Vera Arvin, ’67, from Baltimore, Md., is 

deceased. 

Eddie Archer ’72 


Eddie Archer, ’72, is from Jellico, Tenn., and the history of his 

hometown has always intrigued him. However, it was not until 

he retired from his teaching career that he had the opportunity 

to combine that interest with his love of words to create his first 

book, The Day the Earth Shook. 

In 1906, there were two Jellicos—Tennessee and Kentucky, until 

September 21, when a railroad car filled with dynamite exploded at the railroad station 

on the Kentucky side, resulting in nine deaths, more than 200 injuries and homelessness for at 

least 500 residents. When a newspaper story about the 100th anniversary of the event brought 

it to Archer’s attention, he decided to write a book about the event and its 

catastrophic effect on the community. 


Archer, who went on to earn his master’s degree at University of Tennesee, 

has been a teacher at Boston in Whitley County, Ky.; at Newcomb High School 

near Jellico and he retired as an English teacher at Jellico Elementary School. 

“Kids love to write,” says Archer. “I enjoyed the challenge of teaching them 

good writing.” He retired to spend more time on his own writing, and 

has been working on a sequel to The Day the Earth Shook. He continues 

to seek personal stories from diaries, letters and the families of those who 

experienced the event and its aftermath. He has also begun another project, 

which focuses on other regional, life-changing events and the lives of 

influential individuals who have had a profound effect on the area that he 

and his wife Vickie Nayles Archer, ’85, call home. 


ALUMNI NEWS 

Wayne Leitch, ’67, age 66, from Knoxville, 

Tenn., passed away at his home July 17, 

2010, after a lengthy bout with cancer. A 

retired accountant from Merita Bakery/ 

Interstate Brands Corporation, he is 

survived by two sons, Greg Leitch and 

Britton Leitch of Knoxville. 

Chester Osborne, ’67, age 71, passed 

away March 26, 2007. He also attended 

University of Kentucky, Wright State 

University and Xavier University of Ohio, 

where he received his master’s degree and 

specialist degree. He taught in Ohio 

Schools and retired in 1987 as a high 

school guidance counselor in Springboro, 

Ohio. Following retirement, he worked 

as an educational issues writer for the 

Middletown Journal. A lifetime member 

of the National Teachers Association, he 

was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a 

member of Lincoln Masonic Lodge # 137 

of Middletown, Ohio. He is survived by 

his wife of 44 years, Reba Jewel Osborne; 

three brothers, Jack of Harriman, Tenn., 

Joe of Harlan and Ron of Winchester. 

1970’s 

Jerry Eggenberger, ’70’s, age 68, of 

Jackson, Tenn., passed away April 29, 2010, 

at his home. He attended Clear Creek 

Baptist College, Cumberland College 

and Trinity College & Seminary, and was 

ordained to the partial ministry by Second 

Baptist Church of Union City, Tenn. He 

is survived by his wife Betty Eggenberger; 

two sons, David Lee Eggenberger and John 

Russell Eggenberger; one daughter Amy 

Bentley; one sister, two half brothers and 

seven grandchildren. 

James Matthew “Matt” Renfro, ’70, 61, 

of Hollansburg, Ohio, passed away April 2, 

2010, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, 

Ohio. A native of Southeastern Kentucky, 

he did graduate work at the University of 

Dayton. He is survived by his wife of 40 

years, Verna Ann Gray Renfro, his son 

James Thomas and sister Nancy Kay Renfro 

Bowling. 

Hazel Faye Rose White, ’71, age 60, 

of Upton, passed away June 7, 2010, at 

Norton Pavilion in Louisville. A native of 

Williamsburg, she was a retired teacher 

with the Hardin County Schools. She is 

survived by her husband of 39 years, Louis 

White, son Chris White, daughter Tiffany 

Jones, brothers, Tony Rose and Wayne 

Rose. 

Marlyn Randle Bryant, ’72, of Bethel, 

Ohio passed away in 2008. 

David L. Crocker, ’72, of Columbus, 

Ohio, passed away on April 19, 2010. He 

is survived by his wife of 33 years, Viola 

Hay Crocker, and mother, Virginia Mae 

Crocker; and children, Martha Crocker, 

Randy Urban, Jr. and George Crocker. 

Raymond D. Sanders, Jr., ’74, from 

Knoxville, Tenn., passed away on June 27, 

2010, at University of Kentucky Samaritan 

Hospital. A native of Williamsburg, he 

was a retired respiratory therapist at the 

University of Kentucky Medical Center. 

John Hurst, ’76, passed away on August 

10, 2009. 

2000’s 

Pamela Lou Napier Peters, ’01, of 

Williamsburg, passed away February 14, 

2010, at Baptist Regional Medical Center 

in Corbin, Kentucky. A member of Main 

Street Baptist Church, she was a former 

teacher at Williamsburg City School. She 

graduated from Knox Central High School, 

Union College and Cumberland College. 

Mrs. Peters is survived by her husband 

Gary L. Peters, Jr. and her daughter Brittani 

Jo Lynn Peters. 

Thomas Peter Blumette, Jr, current 

student, 21, from Cookeville, Tenn., 

passed away March 11, 2010, at Cookeville 

Regional Medical Center. A graduate of 

South Oldham High School in Crestwood, 

he played football for the Patriots. Tommy is 

survived by his parents, Thomas Blumette, 

Sr., Williamsburg, and Janet Susan Hobby 

Blumette, Cookeville, Tenn.; three sisters, 

Jamie Lewis, Rebekah Blumette and Ashley 

Blumette, and his grandmother, Lucille 

Blumette. 

~ 

ENABLED NOT DISABLED 

When Hans Wortman, ’89, was born, 

his parents were told that by the age of 

ten he would be a “vegetable,” because 

there was no available medicine to 

stabilize his epileptic seizures. In spite 

of learning difficulties, he succeeded 

in school. The son of independent 

missionaries, he became a Christian at 

the age of eight. 

“God has blessed me and has reminded 

me various times in my life that He 

looks at our heart.” said Wortman. 

Wortman, whose uncle, Dr. Harold 

Wortman, served as a professor of music 

at Cumberlands, and his aunt, Lois, 

was head librarian, pursued a major in 

religion with a minor in psychology. He 

has been married for twelve years. 

Although Wortman has faced many 

difficulties in his life, including a serious 

assault by ten juveniles who escaped 

from a corrections facility “I could 

have sued for what they did; however, I 

forgave and prayed for them, and God 

still took care of me. God enables our 

lives for a purpose, and each day we live 

is a gift from Him,” said Wortman. 

-Submitted commentary by Hans 

Wortman. 

Cumberland Today is 

your publication. 

Please contact us with 

comments 

or suggestions at 

alumni@ 

ucumberlands.edu 

or 606-539-4355. 



33

REMEMBER WHEN 

Photo submitted by Marcella Faulkner Mountjoy, ’41 

Cumberland College/Highland College, Williamsburg, Kentucky, in front of the Old Gray Brick Building (known today as the Bennett Building) circa 1920. 

Pictured: Katie Powers, Mary J. Slusher, Walter Brown, Ike (sp?) Golden, A.J. Skeen, Caleb Davis, Lucie Turell, Myrtle Burnett, Bettie Meadows, Margaret Stephens, Evie 

Bunch, Willie Rains, Ezra Rains, Rita Walker, Francis Parker, Nina Miller, Ethel Stines, Newman Campbell, Mattie Cooper, Nona Rickett, Emily Calloway, Letha Chitwood, 

Rossetta Reid, Mary Shipley, G.T. Jones, ? Wilder, S.S. Harp, ? Kelsey, ? Alsip, Elizabeth Norman, Cynthia Byers (sp? Boyd), ? Swan, Maggie Smith, ? Lovitt, ? Caddell, ? 

West, Harrison Campbell, ? Gilreath, ? Smith, ? Richardson, ? Jones, D.O. Siler, Eva Moore, Osa Meadors, Mary Harrison, Maggie Stinson, Hattie Patrick, Ida Hill, Hannah 

McFarland, Janie Carr, Mrs. O.L. Arnold, Minnie ?, Nannie Tour, Cletta Burnett, Iva Carter, Albert Baird, Everett ?, Armilla Byrd, Sylvia Harris Wood. 

Help us identify this event. Call 539-4355. 

MOVIE ON THE LAWN 

UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS HOMECOMING 

OCTOBER 2, 2010 

Band Practice Field (near Hutton School of Business) 

Bring a blanket or lawn chair 

*In case of rain event will be in the Rollins Center. 

TOY STORY 3 

(fIREWORKS BEGIN AT 8:30 P.M. FOLLOWED BY MOVIE) 



Jennifer McBay Barry 

’01 

Jennifer Barry, ’01, is a writer. She writes thousands of words every day, so she is rarely 

without a keyboard close at hand. However, as much as she enjoys writing, at Cumberlands 

she pursued a major in vocal performance and seemed well on her way to an opera career. 

But, an automobile accident four days before she departed for New York to pursue her dream 

resulted in her following a different career path. Four months later, out of her leg brace, she 

met Liam Barry, an Irishman who became her husband, and whose homeland became the 

setting for her debut novel, The Kingdom, published in 2009. 

“I wrote my first book at age twelve; now I laugh to think about it, but there’s something 


about losing myself in another world I’ve created.” said Barry. “I once expressed myself through music, and now I express myself through 

words.” 

Following the adventures of Rioghan, Prince of Fairies, who falls in love with the daughter of an opera singer, the novel relies heavily 

upon the author’s experience as a singer and her classes at Cumberlands. Using Irish history and mythology as a springboard, Barry mixed 

in some Greek and Roman mythology, some Biblical scripture and a dash of Arthurian legend. She pulled out some of her class notes 

and found them quite useful in developing her story. 

“I loved my classes at Cumberland, and used knowledge I learned there,” she said. “I especially enjoyed Dr. Young’s class in Old 

Testament.” She also said that her minor in children’s literature had been most helpful to her writing. 

Barry, who has taught English and music, maintains a blog and networks with new writers about becoming published. “I enjoy 

reaching new authors in a way that not only entertains but also helps them to reach their aspirations,” she says. She lives in Nashville 

with her husband Liam, and the sequel to The Kingdom will be released during the fall. 

Jennifer Barry at the launch party for The Kingdom 

with the book’s illustrator, Aaron Jackson, who attended 

Cumberlands during his freshman year. 


See Jennifer on 

Author’s Row at the 

2010 Homecoming 

Carnival, October 2, 

at University of the 

Cumberlands! 



35

Summer 2010 construction on the 

Correll Health and Wellness Center 

CB Club Mrs. Marcella Faulkner Mountjoy 170joy@bellsouth.net 

1958 Ms. Lola Miles Oliver lolamilesoliver@webtv.net 

1959 Mr. Harry Siler harrysiler@yahoo.com 

1960 Mr. Bob Cain bobc1012000@yahoo.com 

1961 Dr. Edsel West hannahwest@marykay.com 

1962 Mrs. Dorothy Meadors Morris bdmorris589@roadrunner.com 

1963 Mr. Frank Burns fstormyb@aol.com 

1964 Mr. Edgar Bryant edgarb@kih.net 

1965 Mr. Alvin Sharpe alvin.sharpe@ucumberlands.edu 

1966 Mr. V. L. Stonecipher vstoneci@acs.ac 

1967 Mr. Richard “Dick” Koeniger dkoeniger@seidata.com 

1968 Dr. Terry Dixon drtpd@aol.com 

1969 Dr. Tom Frazier tom.frazier@ucumberlands.edu 

1970 Mr. Ray Lipps esquireco@earthlink.net 

1971 Dr. & Mrs. Michael & Donna Colegrove michael.colegrove@ucumberlands.edu 

1972 Ms. Linda Carter linda.carter@ucumberlands.edu 

1973 Mr. David Gay dcgay@iwrkz.com 

1974 Mr. Floyd Stroud floyd.stroud@ucumberlands.edu 

1975 Mr. Bill Lyttle bill49ers07@yahoo.com 

1976 Mr. Richard Prewitt richard.prewitt@whitley.kyschools.us 

1977 Mr. Alfred Apple drives@kih.net 

1978 Dr. Michael Smith otridge@bellsouth.net 

1979 Dr. Dennis Trickett dennis.trickett@ucumberlands.edu 

1980 Mr. David Rhodes drhodes@thewalkercompany.com 

1981 Mr. Crayton Ellison tellison2410@yahoo.com 

1982 Ms. Laura Keown laura.keown@centre.edu 

1983 Mr. Chris Keegan CKe8009542@aol.com 

1984 Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Lisa Jackson lisa.jackson@ucumberlands.edu 

1985 Mr. Craig Mack mack7335@bellsouth.net 

1986 Mr. Russell Jones tireruss@aol.com 

1987 Dr. Wheeler Conover ewconover@yahoo.com 

1988 Mr. Jeff Davis jeffd@cedlexington.com 

1989 Mrs. Denise Bender Sesler denisesesler@bellsouth.net 

1990 Mrs. Melanie Mackey Evans mevans@ortn.edu 

1991 Mrs. Patti Mullins patti.mullins@whitley.kyschools.us 

1992 Dr. Paul Chitwood pchitwood@fbcmw.org 

1993 Mr. Mark Anderson mark.anderson.goodz56@statefarm.com 

1994 Mr. Jeff Barker jkbarker@woh.rr.com 

1995 Ms. Melissa Irvin melissa.irvin@ucumberlands.edu 

1996 Mrs. Amy Jacobs Liddle liddlehouse@gmail.com 

1997 Mrs. Jill Gross Arvanitis jillarvanitis@yahoo.com 

1998 Mrs. Susan Rice Bradley Susan.Bradley@homefederaltn.com 

1999 Mr. Kenny McKinney KmcKinney9@yahoo.com 

2000 Mr. Jonathan Childers jchilders@infocapsol.com 

2001 Mr. Kevin Weihe keviny_14@yahoo.com 

2002 Mr. Josh Moses alumni@ucumberlands.edu 

2003 Mrs. Alaina Allen Gibbs daisy_john8_32@hotmail.com 

2004 Mr. Joe Salvato cumberlandjoe@yahoo.com 

2005 Mrs. Jessica Anderson Shearer jessica.shearer@ucumberlands.edu 

2006 Ms. Katie Bowers awesomeangel_02@hotmail.com 

2007 Mr. Brandon Creech b20creech@hotmail.com 

2008 Mrs. Jordan Patton Skiles jep2004@yahoo.com 

2009 Ms. Brittney House bhouse1256@ucumberlands.edu 

2010 Mr. Chris Felder 

ALUMNI CLASS AGENT EMAIL 

shawn_balboa2007@yahoo.com 


CRUISE BACK TO CUMBERLAND 

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. 

REGISTRATION - Smiddy Entrance Building 

Free Gifts, Register to win 1 of 2 hooded sweatshirts. Alumni Board 

Election/Voting. All-U-Can-Eat Buffet & Captain’s Alumni Dinner Preregistered 

Ticket(s) Pick-up 

4:00 p.m. 

Men’s Soccer Game - Soccer field 

Walsh University vs. University of the Cumberlands 

4:30 p.m. 

Creech-Boswell Club and 1960 Class Reunion Dinner - 

Cumberland Inn *Reservation required. Ticket pick-up at lobby registration 

table. 

Cumberland Scholarship Auction - Preview & Silent Bidding: 

Cumberland Inn 

7:30 p.m. 

Music Department Concert - Mary McGaw Music Building 

Free Admission - General Seating 

9:00 p.m 

Headliner - Team Rootberry - Gatliff Chapel - Free Admission 

8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

REGISTRATION - Smiddy Entrance Building - Free Coffee 

Free Gifts - Register to win 1 of 2 hooded sweatshirts. Alumni Board 

Election/Voting. All-U-Can-Eat Buffet and Captain’s Alumni Dinner 

Pre-registered Ticket Pick-up 

SHUTTLE SERVICE PICK-UP AND DROP OFF TO CARNIVAL AT BRIAR 

CREEK PARK: 

Smiddy Entrance on Main Street and at Briar Creek Park 

8:30 a.m. 

Boswell 5K Run/Walk Registration - Briar Creek Park 

*Pre-register by 9-24-09 saves $5.00 or sign up day of event. 

9:00 a.m. 

Boswell 5K Run/Walk Start - Briar Creek Park 

Sponsored by Student Government Association 

Future Alums Fun Run - FREE for kids ages 4-12 

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Cumberlands Port-of-Call Carnival - Briar Creek Park near James H. 

Taylor II Stadium 

**Food, Games, Inflatables (climbing wall & obstacle course), 

Pottery by Rayford Watts, Face Painting, Balloon Artist, Prizes, 

Authors’ Row Book Signing, Chili Cook-off, and more 

All Alumni Reunions - Briar Creek Park 

Corn Hole Tournament - Briar Creek Park - 9:00 a.m. $10 per person. 

Registration at 8:30 a.m. - T-shirt Toss and Cash Prizes 

Cumberland Scholarship Auction - Briar Creek Park - 11:00 a.m. 

(Sponsored by Alumni Board of Directors - Proceeds for Scholarships 

and alumni-related events) 

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Campus Tours - Smiddy Entrance Building (leaving every half hour) 

1:30 p.m. 

Football Game - James H. Taylor II Stadium 

Union College vs. University of the Cumberlands 

“Battle for the Brass Lantern” 

Homecoming Court Presentation - Halftime 

*Ticket Required. Tickets available at the gate, beginning at 

11:00 a.m. 

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Dinner Options 

Option 1 

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. All-U-Can-Eat Buffet for Students, Families, 

and Alumni - Boswell Campus Center - Informal Dinner; No Program 

*Reservation Required. Tickets must be picked up by 1:30 p.m. on 

Saturday. 

Option 2 

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Homecoming Buffet for Students, Families, 

and Alumni - Cumberland Inn 

*Reservations recommended by calling 606-539-4105. 

Adults: $10.95; Children ages 5-12: $5.25; Children ages 4 & under: 

Free; Students: $4.00 with meal exchange 

Option 3 

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Captain’s Alumni Dinner 

T.J. Roberts Dining Hall - Dinner with Program. 

Recognition of Honored Classes: ‘60, ‘65, ‘70, ‘75, ‘80, ‘85, ‘90, ‘95, 

‘00, ‘05 & ‘10. 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Betty Lentz Siegel, ‘50, President Emeritus at 

Kennesaw State University. Alumni Awards & Alumni Board Member 

Installations 

*Reservation Required. Tickets must be picked up by 1:30 p.m. on 

Saturday 

7:00 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. 

Residence Hall Open House - All Halls 

The Annual Event for Current Cumberland Students, Alumni, and Their Families - All Area Residents Welcome 

8:30 p.m. 

Fireworks and Movie on the Lawn - Band Practice Field 

(Presented by Pyro Shows, LaFollette, Tennessee. Additional 

fireworks provided by Thunder Sam’s Fireworks, Jellico, Tennessee) 

Followed by: ***Movie: Toy Story 3 

Free Admission (blanket or lawn chair recommended) 

9:30 p.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

Community Worship Service - Gatliff Chapel 

Worship - Brent Foley, ‘10 

Message - Michael Cabell, ‘01 

(Convocation make-up) 

*Charges apply. All dinner tickets must be purchased by September 17, 2010. 

See price list on remisttance section or on the main Alumni & Student Weekend. 

Web page: http://www.ucumberlands.edu/alumni/weekend/schedule10.pdf or call 

(606)539-4355. **In case of rain, Carnival will be in the Gatliff (IM) Gym. 

***In case of rain, the movie will be held in the O. Wayne Rollins Center. 

Campus Bookstore Hours: 

Friday: 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 

Ticket Information: call the Alumni Services Ticket Offi ce: (606) 539-4355 

General Information: call Alumni Services Offi ce: (606) 539-4355 or 

Student Activities Offi ce: (606) 539-4232

SAVE THE DATE 

CRUISE BACK TO CUMBERLAND HOMECOMING 2010 

October 1 -3 

UNIVERSITY of the CUMBERLANDS 

Office of Alumni Services 



NON-PROFIT 

US POSTAGE PAID 

OWENSBORO, KY 

42301 

PERMIT #241

Summer/Fall 2010 - University of the Cumberlands

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?